Bridge Building 2016

[laidlawe18]

anyone know a good place to get or make the test support. thanks

if you mean the whole table, look here

http://www.pitsco.com/Structure_Testing_Device

Just to be sure, since sometimes students/parents/coaches think this: as a competitor/parent/coach, you do not need to buy or make a test setup that meets the specifications in the rules. As a competitor, if you want to test your bridge at home/school, you can pull two tables of same height together so they have a gap that allows your bridge to span the span allowed by the rules. On one side you'll want a 2.0 cm x 5.0 cm x 5.0 cm block for the Test Support (3.a. and 4.b.). If you don't have one already or don't want to make one, buying one might be easier, and the website the previous user listed sells them: http://www.pitsco.com/Precision_Test_Block_Boomilever. You'll also want another 2.0 cm x 5.0 cm x 2.0 cm block for the Loading Block (4.c.), an eyebolt for that Loading Block, a bucket, some chains to attach the bucket to the eyebolt, and lots of sand/rice/grain.

Just to clarify, the loading block is 5 cm x 5 cm x 2 cm. Just a typo, but you never know what people are going to read and believe.

[coinutah]

Can anyone offer a front on view of the setup please. And the 20cm hole. I am getting lost int he rules and a rookie. Also what is the MIN size of the bridge length please?
I also an not sure how on side is 2cm up and one side is 5cm up in the load zone? A pix would be so nice,
Michael

[coinutah]

Dave can you draw a picture of how this plays out from the front? and Top?
Thank you,
Michael

[bernard]

Can anyone offer a front on view of the setup please. And the 20cm hole. I am getting lost int he rules and a rookie. Also what is the MIN size of the bridge length please?
I also an not sure how on side is 2cm up and one side is 5cm up in the load zone? A pix would be so nice,
Michael

Dave can you draw a picture of how this plays out from the front? and Top?
Thank you,
Michael

Your posts make me think you haven't seen this year's rules, which I strongly advise so any bridges you make are legal for competition. There are two diagrams in the rules this year: one is a side view of a bridge that illustrates the placement of the Test Support (3.a.) and the 2.0 cm maximum height rule (3.a.). Note that the 2.0 cm maximum height rule does not apply to the entire bridge, just the section that rests in the Bearing Zone without the Test Support. I think this is quite clear in the rule's diagram.

If you don't have a copy of the rules, your coach might have it if he/she has completed registration for your team. And if not, the rules app is a way of getting the rules if you have a smartphone, but I'm not sure if the diagrams are in the app...

[chalker]

If you don't have a copy of the rules, your coach might have it if he/she has completed registration for your team. And if not, the rules app is a way of getting the rules if you have a smartphone, but I'm not sure if the diagrams are in the app...

The app has all the diagrams that are in the printed manual (but none of the 'clipart' type pictures).

[kinghong1970]

Hi,

sorry for the lack of intro... my 6th grade kids are excited to get into this for the first time.
i've been reading the rules handout given to me by the teacher and i'm a bit confused still, as it's been quite some time since i've entered any kind of contest... oh, say, 40 or so years ago...

6. SCORING: The Load Supported is the measured load supported (including the Loading Block, chain, hooks,
eyebolt, wing nut, bucket, and sand) but may not exceed 15.000 kg. The least possible Load Supported must
be the mass of the Loading Block. Bridges that cannot support the Loading Block must be ranked in Tier 4.

so i take it that the challenge is not to make a bridge that holds the most weight but the lightest bridge that'll hold 15kg?

thanks in advance,

Al

[Unome]

Hi,

sorry for the lack of intro... my 6th grade kids are excited to get into this for the first time.
i've been reading the rules handout given to me by the teacher and i'm a bit confused still, as it's been quite some time since i've entered any kind of contest... oh, say, 40 or so years ago...

6. SCORING: The Load Supported is the measured load supported (including the Loading Block, chain, hooks,
eyebolt, wing nut, bucket, and sand) but may not exceed 15.000 kg. The least possible Load Supported must
be the mass of the Loading Block. Bridges that cannot support the Loading Block must be ranked in Tier 4.

so i take it that the challenge is not to make a bridge that holds the most weight but the lightest bridge that'll hold 15kg?

thanks in advance,

Al

It is if the efficiency of a certain bridge design maxes when it's built to support larger masses, which I'm not sure of. Someone on this forum that's more knowledgeable about this event will probably give you a better answer.

[doublelift]

Hi,

sorry for the lack of intro... my 6th grade kids are excited to get into this for the first time.
i've been reading the rules handout given to me by the teacher and i'm a bit confused still, as it's been quite some time since i've entered any kind of contest... oh, say, 40 or so years ago...

6. SCORING: The Load Supported is the measured load supported (including the Loading Block, chain, hooks,
eyebolt, wing nut, bucket, and sand) but may not exceed 15.000 kg. The least possible Load Supported must
be the mass of the Loading Block. Bridges that cannot support the Loading Block must be ranked in Tier 4.

so i take it that the challenge is not to make a bridge that holds the most weight but the lightest bridge that'll hold 15kg?

thanks in advance,

Al

Yes, efficiency is more important than weight held, so keeping bridge weight low is important.

Holding 15kg also isn't the only way to get a good efficiency. An extremely light bridge (~3g) that holds a medium amount of weight (~8kg) would score very high as well.

[kinghong1970]

wow... this is really challenging...

thanks again for the clarification.

Al

[elooto]

Can you place the test support anywhere you'd like on the bearing zone. All pictures show it as close to the clear span area as possible, but I do not see any rule saying that it has to be right up against the edge. Im just thinking that if you put it a bit further away from the edge, it will help with the elevation change...