UC Civil Engineering s 2010 High School Bridge Building Competition Proves to Be a Big Draw

The University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) annual bridge-building competition for area high-school students will be held Friday, Feb. 26, in Tangeman University Center’s Great Hall.

"This year’s UC 'Civil Engineering High School Bridge Competition' will attract more than 430 high-school juniors and seniors to UC’s campus," says organizer Gian A. Rassati, assistant professor of structural engineering. "We are tremendously excited that the number of participants consistently increases year after year, to the point that we had to limit on-campus participation to the best 51 bridges from each high school."

The rules for the event were adapted from the Science Olympiad, a national organization whose mission is “To promote and improve student interest in science and to improve the quality of K–12 science education throughout the nation.” The student teams consist of one to three high-school students. No student may be on more than one team and each team must be sponsored by a high-school teacher.

Each team constructs a bridge that must be a single structure constructed of wood bonded by glue. The entire bridge, including the road surface, must be built with pieces of wood no larger than ¼" high and ¼" wide. The bridges have to weigh less than 0.68kg (about 1½ pounds). The road surface must allow the free passage of a rolling Matchbox™ or Hot Wheels™ model car along its entire length.

Bridges are registered upon the students’ arrival and impounded on registration. After the testing, the bridges are returned to the students.

First, the bridge is subjected to a rolling test. The bridge is inclined by placing a 50mm-high block under one end of the bridge. The model car is placed on the elevated end of the road surface and allowed to roll down its length and exit the bridge. If the car gets stuck, the students may restart from that point. Two restarts are allowed. There is no score for the rolling test. Failure of this test disqualifies the bridge.

Second, the bridge’s strength and stiffness are tested, based on its load-bearing abilities.

Awards will be given in each of three categories:

• Best Strength  
• Best Stiffness
• Best Overall

“We owe a big thank you to all dedicated high-school teachers who work hard to prepare their students for the competition," adds Rassati. "Many thanks also go to all CEE students who volunteer their time to contribute to a successful event.”

"By competing, the students will be introduced to the concept of what engineers do, while applying their knowledge of physics and mathematics," Rassati says. "Students will be the center of the event, and will have the opportunity to experience first-hand one day of campus life, and visit all of UC’s outstanding facilities. By doing so, we are hoping to show the students that engineering in general, and in particular civil engineering, is a viable, exciting, and socially important discipline, thereby increasing the number of students choosing UC to pursue their life dream with the help of an engineering degree."

The 2010 High-School Bridge Building Competition is sponsored by the Herman Schneider Foundation.