The Steel Bridge competition is one of the most exciting to watch, as schools race to assemble their bridge as quickly as possible, before applying loads and testing the deflections. There are countless deductions and possible disqualifications that the teams must avoid, and it isn’t uncommon for over one-third of the teams to be disqualified. Overall, our steel bridge team had a great competition this year, despite failing the lateral load test.
Wheeling the bridge box to the competition. All of the pieces and tools must fit within a certain area.
The non-bridge-team-members prepare to cheer the team on.
Co-captain Daniel’s ready to assemble a bridge!
Last-minute team strategizing.
Getting ready to compete.
2014 Steel Bridge Team
2014 Steel Bridge Team
Team huddle.
Bridge team huddle.
The judges ensure that the team understands the competition setup.
With the clock started, Daniel runs pieces of the bridge to the other team members.
Only the runner can bring things to the people assembling the bridge.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team begins assembling the bridge, section by section.
Daniel runs another piece of steel to the bridge site.
The bridge trusses are held together with bolts.
The bolts and drills also have to be run to the assemblers, who hold onto them.
The team practices extensively so that the assembly is like clockwork on the day of the competition.
Piece by piece, the bridge takes shape.
Only the runner is allowed to leave the bridge area.
The timing and sequence of each piece’s arrival is critical to a quick construction time.
Bridge in the water: the front right column is touching the tape on the ground, signifying that the bridge is in the water and adding a time penalty.
Working together to assemble the bridge, piece by piece.
Daniel’s still running…
Assembling the bridge is definitely a team effort.
Initially, all of the bolts are put in loosely by hand, then they’re later tightened with drills.
The bridge assembly is complete!
The captains inspect the bridge for loose bolts and incorrectly placed pieces.
The judges review the time deductions from the bridge assembly process.
Winston prepares to make a repair, which costs extra time at a much higher rate.
Bridge assembly team with the assembled bridge.
Bridge assembly competition team.
Good job bridge team!
Carrying the bridge to be weighed.
Carrying the bridge from the assembly area to the weighing and loading area.
Preparing to weigh our bridge.
Weighing our bridge.
The lateral load test.
The lateral load test.
It looks like our deflection is considerably too large to pass the lateral load test.
We failed the lateral load test, resulting in a large financial penalty (much of the competition is scored on cost). Fortunately, this only effects certain parts of the competition.
Everyone helps disassemble the bridge after the competition.
At the PSWC Awards Banquet, all of the conference attendees gather for a nice dinner and to celebrate their victories at PSWC. We went in expecting to place top-three in maybe one of the smaller events. But we came out with our best year overall since 1994, placing 3rd overall thanks to the hard work of our entire team. Check out the details of our results here.
Scavenger Hunt – 1st Place Acceptance
Steel Bridge – 3rd Place Overall Acceptance
Full Concrete Canoe results sheet
USC – 3rd place overall!
USC ASCE: PSWC 2014 3rd Place Overall Celebration
USC ASCE: PSWC 2014 3rd Place Overall Celebration
Our President, Elise, with our PSWC 2014 3rd Place Overall Award
Our President, VP, and Advisor with our PSWC 2014 3rd Place Overall Plaque
Steel Bridge Team: 3rd Place Overall
Steel Bridge Team: 3rd place in Lightness and Construction Speed
Our concrete bowling team created a Wilson-themed bowling ball, only to discover that two other schools had the same theme. Next year we’ll be more creative! It bowled well, resulting in a respectable showing.
2014 Concrete Bowling Team
Preparing to throw the concrete bowling ball.
The bowling lane. It was slightly uphill.
A successful first throw.
Rolling the ball, made difficult by the lack of finger holes.
Tedman throws the ball.
Kelvin lines up his throw.
Concrete bowling throw windup.
It looks like he’s going to give it a nice gentle roll, but that won’t work.
A bouncing approach to concrete bowling.
Another successful throw!
Last official throw.
Non-bowling team members had a lot more trouble – guess the practice worked!
Some of us have more acrobatic concrete bowling techniques than others.
