In 2006 and 2007 I had the privilege of being the Captain of Portland State’s AISC/ASCE Steel Bridge Team. Our team took first place at the ASCE Regional Conference in Fairbanks Alaska and went on to compete at the National competition in Los Angeles California.
Each year colleges across the country compete to build a bridge out of steel. The rules of competition change every year so that no school can use the same bridge twice. The bridges are about 20 feet long, 6 feet, tall 4 feet wide, and weigh anywhere from 150lbs to 800lbs. The bridge has to be assembled under timed conditions with limitations on the size of the parts. The winning bridge balances weight, construction time, and a low deflection when 2500 pounds of weight is place on it.
The YouTube Video above is of our winning run at Regionals.
I could go into great detail on the fabrication of the bridge but it would take almost as much time as it took to build it. I am more than happy to answer anyone’s technical questions.
This project had more to do with the people on my team than the actual bridge. The team members are some of the smartest, funniest, most caring, people I have known, I will not forget them. My fondest memories from 2007 were created working side by side with these people.
Please enjoy the photos below (there are almost 200 photos)
