West Virginia Bridge Design & Build
Statewide Contest 2017
ImportantDatesWVStatewideQualifyingRoundBegins:October10,2016
DeadlineforTeacherstoRequestClassroomVisitMarch1,2017WVStatewideQualifyingRoundEnds:–March15,201711:59p.m.
StatewideFinalistNotificationDeadline:March31,2017StatewideFinals:May13,2017
ContestSponsors
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TableofContents
1 What’sNew?ImportantInformationforthisYear’sContest................................................3
1.1 TeamRegistration............................................................................................................3
1.2 BridgeDesignSoftwareandFileSubmission...................................................................3
1.3 BalsaBridgeRequiredforStatewideFinalistsandSeparateRanking..............................3
2 WVStatewideContestInformation........................................................................................4
2.1 Overview..........................................................................................................................4
2.2 OversightandCoordination.............................................................................................4
2.3 Rules&Eligibility..............................................................................................................5
2.4 ContestSchedule.............................................................................................................5
3 BridgeDesignContest.............................................................................................................6
3.1 BridgeDesignerSoftware................................................................................................6
3.2 RequestingClassroomVisits............................................................................................7
3.3 TeamRegistration............................................................................................................7
3.4 BridgeDesignSoftwareandFileSubmission...................................................................7
3.5 FinalistSelection..............................................................................................................7
3.6 FinalRound......................................................................................................................7
4 BalsaBridgeBuildContest....................................................................................................10
4.1 Overview........................................................................................................................10
4.2 BalsaBridgeKits.............................................................................................................10
4.3 TeamComposition.........................................................................................................10
4.4 TheProblem...................................................................................................................10
4.5 TheChallenge................................................................................................................10
4.6 TrussBridgeSpecifications............................................................................................11
4.7 FinalRound....................................................................................................................12
4.8 NotestoTeamMentors.................................................................................................12
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1 What’sNew?ImportantInformationforthisYear’sContest1.1 TeamRegistrationThe2017WVStatewidecontestwillberunseparatefromtheNationalEngineeringEncountersBridgeDesignContest(EEBDC),whichtypicallystartsinJanuaryofthecontestyear.Therefore,registrationfortheWVStatewidecontestmustbecompletedatthecontestwebsite:www.wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com.TheoutcomeoftheWVStatewideFinalsdoesnothaveanyimpactontheselectionofteamsfortheNationalContestFinals.1.2 BridgeDesignSoftwareandFileSubmissionThe2017WVStatewidecontestwillutilizetheBridgeDesigner2016software(samesoftwareasthe2016WVStatewidecontest).Thesoftwarecanbedownloadedfromwww.wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com.SoftwaredesignfilesmustbeuploadedtotheWVStatewidecontestwebsiteforevaluationusingtheteam’slogininformation.1.3 BalsaBridgeRequiredforStatewideFinalistsandSeparateRankingBalsabridgebuildingandtestingwasincorporatedintotheWVStatewidecontestforthefirsttimein2016.Duetotheoverwhelmingpositiveresponsefromtheparticipants,thebalsabridgebuildingwillincludedagainthisyear.Inthe2016contest,thebalsabridgewasoptionalandteamswithbridgesthatheldtheminimumrequiredloadwereabletodoubletheirbridgedesignprize.Forthe2017contest,finalistswillberequiredtoconstructabalsabridgeandthebalsaaspectofthecontestwillhaveitsownrankingsbasedonjudgesscoresandstrength-to-weightratio.Therefore,prizeswillawardedindependentlyforthedesignandthebuildaspectsofthecontest.
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2 WVStatewideContestInformation2.1 OverviewWestVirginiaBridgeDesignandBuildContestisastatewidecontestintendedtoconductoutreachtomiddleschoolandhighschoolstudentsintheareaofengineering,specificallycivilengineering.Thecontestprimarilycoversbridgedesign,butteamsinvitedtotheFinalRoundwillalsohavetheopportunitytocompeteinabridgebuildingcontest.TheWVStatewideContestrunsfromOctober10,2016untilMarch15,2017at11:59p.m.Inordertobeenteredintothiscontest,teamsmustregisterfortheWVStatewideContestatwww.wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com.Thiswillensurethatthecorrectcontactinformationisavailabletocontactthefinalists.Allbridgedesignfileswillbeuploadedtothiswebsite.ThetoprankedteamsenteredintheWVStatewideContestwillbeinvitedtoparticipateintheStatewideFinalstotakeplaceonMay13,2017atMarshallUniversityinHuntington,WV.Itisanticipatedthatapproximately25teamstotalwillbeinvitedfromhighschoolandmiddleschoolentries.TheteamswillbenotifiedbyMarch31,2017.TheteamsthataccepttheinvitationtotheWVStatewideFinalswillreceiveabalsawoodkittoconstructabridgeandbringtothefinals.2.2 OversightandCoordinationThe2017WestVirginiaBridgeDesignandBuildContestisbeingconductedbytheRahallTransportationInstituteatMarshallUniversityandtheWestVirginiaDepartmentofTransportation–DivisionofHighways.Theconteststeeringcommitteemembersfor2016arelistedinthetablebelow:
Name OrganizationCasseyBowden RahallTransportationInstituteJenniferDooley WestVirginiaDOT-DOHGregMallory GeorgeWashingtonHighSchoolRylandMusick WestVirginiaDOT-DOHAndrewNichols RahallTransportationInstitute
Thecoordinatorofthe2017contestisCasseyBowden.Shecanbecontacteddirectlywithanyquestionsusingthecontactinformationbelow:
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2.3 Rules&Eligibility
1. Studentsmayparticipateinthestatefinalscontestfromgrades6-12.StudentsmustbeattendingaWestVirginiaschoolormustbehome-schooledataWestVirginiaaddress.
2. Studentsmaycompeteindividuallyorinteamsoftwo.3. AlleligiblestudentswillbeplacedintooneoftwoContestCategories—MiddleSchoolor
HighSchool—basedsolelyontheirgradelevel.Eligiblestudentsingrades6-8willberegisteredintheMiddleSchoolCompetition.Eligiblestudentsingrades9-12willberegisteredintheHighSchoolCompetition.
4. Teamscomposedofonehighschoolstudentandonemiddleschoolstudentwillbeconsideredasahighschoolteamforcompetitionpurposes.
5. AnycontestantwhoisnoteligiblemayregisterandcompeteintheOpenCompetition.6. StudentsmustregistertheWestVirginiaStatewidecontestwebsite
(www.wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com).7. StudentsparticipatingintheWVStatewidecontestmustcreatetheirdesignsusingthe
BridgeDesigner2016softwarethatcanbedownloadedfromthecontestwebsite.Alldesignsmustbeuploadedtothecontestwebsiteforevaluation.
8. StudentsareexpectedtoperformtheirownworkduringtheQualifyingRoundandFinalRound.Studentsthatarecaughtcheatingorexhibitingbehaviorthatisnotrepresentativeofthecontestvaluesofteamworkandhonestymaybedisqualifiedatthediscretionofthecontestadvisoryboard.
2.4 ContestScheduleTheschedulefortheWVStatewideContestareshowninthetablebelow.Registrationcanbecompletedatwww.wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com.TheQualifyingRoundwillendonMarch15,2017at11:59p.m.EST.ThetopteamsattheendoftheQualifyingRoundwillbeinvitedtoparticipateintheWestVirginiaBridgeDesign&BuildContestonMay13,2017inHuntington,WV.
Event DatesRegistration October10,2016–March15,2017QualifyingRound October10,2016–March15,2017NotificationofFinalists March16–March31,2017BalsaBridgeConstruction April1–May12,2017FinalRound May13,2017
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3 BridgeDesignContest3.1 BridgeDesignerSoftwareTheBridgeDesigner2016softwarecanbedownloadedfromwww.wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com.Thebulletsbelowprovideanoverviewofthesoftwareuse.Additionaltutorialsareprovidedonthebridgecontest.orgwebsite.
• Studentswillbepresentedwitharequirementtodesignabridgetocarryagivenloadfromaroadwayacrossariver.
• Studentsmaychoosefromawidevarietyofdifferentsiteconfigurationsfortheirbridge.Eachwillcarrytheloadinadifferentway,andeachwillhaveadifferentsitecost.
• Studentswilldevelopadesignfortheirbridgebydrawingapictureofitonthecomputer.
• Oncethedesigniscomplete,the2016BridgeDesignerwilltestthebridgetoseeifitisstrongenoughtocarrythespecifiedhighwayloads.Thistestincludesafull-coloranimationshowingatruckcrossingthedesignedbridge.Ifthedesignisstrongenough,thetruckwillbeabletocrossthebridgesuccessfully.Ifnot,thestructurewillcollapse.
• Ifthebridgedesigncollapses,itcanbestrengthenedbychangingthetypesofsteelandthesizesofthestructuralcomponentsthatmakeupthebridge,orbychangingtheconfigurationofthebridgeitself.
• Oncethebridgecansuccessfullycarrythehighwayloadwithoutcollapsing,thestudentcanthenrefinethedesignwiththeobjectiveofminimizingitscostwhilestillensuringitisstrongenoughtocarrythespecifiedloads.
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3.2 RequestingClassroomVisitsTeachersmaysubmitrequestspriortoMarch1,2017foranengineeringprofessionaltoconductafreeclassroomvisittoexplaintostudentshowtousetheBridgeDesigner2016softwareandteachsomeaspectsofbridgedesign.Thevisitsmaybeconductedbyanundergraduateengineeringstudentchaptermember(e.g.,BluefieldStateUniversity,FairmontStateUniversity,MarshallUniversity,WestVirginiaUniversity,orWVUInstituteofTechnology),aWestVirginiaDepartmentofTransportationemployee,oranotherprofessionalengineervolunteer.Theseassignmentswillbebasedonthelocationoftheschoolandday/timeoftherequestedvisit.RequestsmustbesubmittedviathecontestwebsiteundertheTeacherPortal.3.3 TeamRegistrationThe2017WVStatewidecontestwillberunseparatefromtheNationalEngineeringEncountersBridgeDesignContest(EEBDC),whichtypicallystartsinJanuaryofthecontestyear.Therefore,registrationfortheWVStatewidecontestmustbecompletedatthecontestwebsite:www.wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com.TheoutcomeoftheWVStatewideFinalsdoesnothaveanyimpactontheselectionofteamsfortheNationalContestFinals.3.4 BridgeDesignSoftwareandFileSubmissionThe2017WVStatewidecontestwillutilizetheBridgeDesigner2016software(samesoftwareasthe2016WVStatewidecontest).Thesoftwarecanbedownloadedfromwww.wvbridgedesignandbuildcontest.com.SoftwaredesignfilesmustbeuploadedtotheWVStatewidecontestwebsiteforevaluationusingtheteam’slogininformation.3.5 FinalistSelectionThetoprankedteamsenteredintheWVStatewideContestwillbeinvitedtoparticipateintheStatewideFinalstotakeplaceonMay13,2017atMarshallUniversityinHuntington,WV.Itisanticipatedthatapproximately25teamstotalwillbeinvitedfromhighschoolandmiddleschoolentries.TheteamswillbenotifiedbyMarch31,2017.3.6 FinalRoundTeamswillcompeteintheirrespectiveMiddleSchoolandHighSchooldivisions.The2016BridgeDesignersoftwarewillbeutilizedtodesignthelowestcostbridgefortwodifferentscenariostobeidentifiedbythejudges(e.g.,deckmaterial,deckelevation,abutments,etc.).ThesescenarioswillbedifferentthantheQualifyinRound,whichdidnotspecifythebridgetypeorotherparameters.Awardswillbebasedonthelowestcombinedbridgecostfromthetwoscenarios.
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3.6.1 TeamCompositionTheBridgeDesignteamcompetingintheContestFinalsmustbethesameindividualsthatcompetedinthequalifyinground.IfoneoftheindividualsonateamoftwoisunabletocompeteintheContestFinals,theremainingteammembercancompeteasanindividual.Undernocircumstancescanateammemberbesubstituted.3.6.2 CompetitionTheBridgeDesignFinalswillconsistoftwosequential45-minuteroundswitha15-minuteintermission.Eachroundwillutilizeaspecificdesignscenariothatisselectedbythejudges.Thefollowingruleswillbeenforcedduringthecompetition.
1. Allteamsinthesamedivision(HighSchoolandMiddleSchool)willbeinthesamecomputerlab.EachteamwillbeseatedinfrontoftwocomputersthatarecapableofrunningtheBridgeDesignerSoftware.Onlyonecomputercanbeutilizedforthecompetition.Iftheinitialcomputerencountersaproblemduringthecompetition,notifyajudgeimmediately.Donotstartusingthesecondcomputerwithoutajudge’spermission.
2. Thebridgedesignscenariowillbepre-configuredonthecomputers.Teamsarenotpermittedtochangethedesignscenarioduringthecompetition.Iftheprogramshutsdownandhastoberestarted,notifyajudgesothattheycanconfirmthescenarioiscorrectafterrestartingtheprogram.
3. Computerproblemsarealwayspossible.Therefore,saveyourdesignfileonthecomputerdesktopwhenyoustartdesigning.Makesureyousavethefilefrequentlysothatyoudonotloseyourworkintheeventofacomputermalfunction.Ifadesignislostandunabletobejudged,noadditionaltimeorotherallowancesarepermitted.
4. Teamswillbegivenasheetofpapertorecordtheirbridgecostsanditerationnumber.Thisisforboththeteamandthejudgestokeeptrackoftheirlowestbridgecost.Judgeswillperiodicallyrecordallofthebridgecostsanddisplaytheliverankingsforallparticipantstosee.
5. Thebridgedesign(iteration)thatisshownonthescreenwhentheroundendsisthedesignthatwillbejudged.Itistheresponsibilityoftheteammemberstoensurethattheirlowestcostdesignisshownanditpassestheloadtest.Ifthefinaldesigndoesnotpasstheloadtest,acostof$9,999,999willberecorded.
6. Itisnotfeasibletohidethecomputermonitorsfromtheviewofotherteams.Therefore,allindividualsmustkeeptheireyesontheirownscreens.Anyonecaughtlookingatanotherteam’sscreenswillresultinthedisqualificationofthatteamfortheentirecompetition.
7. Cellphonesandotherpersonalcommunicationdevicesarenotpermittedinthecomputerlabduringthecompetition.Anyonecaughtwithadeviceintheroomduringthecompetitionwillbedisqualifiedfromtheentirecompetition.
8. Individualswhosebehaviorisdeemedtobeinappropriateorunsportsmanlikewillbedismissedfromthecompetitionandmayforfeitanyprizestheirteamiseligibletoreceive.
9. Parents,chaperones,teachers,siblingsorotherpersonsarenotpermittedinthe
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computerlaborthehallwayoutsideofthecomputerlabduringtheBridgeDesigncompetition.Therewillbeaseparateareaforthoseattendingwiththecompetingstudent.
3.6.3 JudgingThejudgeswilldeterminethetwodesignscenariosforthehighschooldivisionandthetwodesignscenariosforthemiddleschooldivisionpriortothecompetition.Attheconclusionofeachdesignround,judgeswillrecordthecostofthebridgedesignshownonthecomputerscreen.Ifthatbridgedesigndoesnotpasstheloadtestorifitisdeterminedthatthedesignscenariowasnotfollowed,thejudgeswillrecordacostof$9,999,999.Judges’decisionsarefinal.Judgeswillcombinethebridgecostsfromthetwodesignroundsforeachteam.Awardswillbebasedonthecombinedcostforeachteam.
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4 BalsaBridgeBuildContest4.1 OverviewTheteamsinvitedtotheStatewideFinalswillbemailedakittoconstructabalsawoodbridge.Teamsaretoconstructasinglebalsabridge,whichwillbetestedandjudgedonthedayoftheStatewideFinals.Bridgeswillbejudgedonbothaestheticsandtheamountofweightitwillholdbeforefailure.4.2 BalsaBridgeKitsThebalsabridgekitswillbemailednolaterthanApril7,2017tothehomeaddressprovidedfortheteamcaptain.ThekitwillconsistofBalsaWoodandWoodGluethatistobeusedtoconstructthebridge.Onlythematerialsincludedinthekitcanbeusedintheconstructionofthebridge.PleasecontacttheCasseyBowden([email protected])ifthereisaproblemwithyoursupplies.4.3 TeamCompositionOnlyonebridgecanbesubmittedperteam.TheBalsaBridgeBuildteamandtheBridgeDesignteammustbethesameindividuals.TheBridgeDesignteamisthesameteamthatisregisteredonthecontestwebsite.4.4 TheProblemThegoalofthiscompetitionistodevelopaTrussBridgethatwillcarrythemaximumloadwhileweighingaslittleaspossible(strength-to-weightratio).Itisrecommendedthateachteamresearchthebridgetypeanddesign,thenconductexperimentstotestforthehigheststrength-to-weightratio,andthendesignandconstructacompetitionbridgebasedonthoseexperiments.EachbridgewillbecheckedforcompliancewiththeTrussBridgeSpecificationsinSection4.6.Thebridgeswillbeweighedandloadtestedduringthecompetitiontocalculatestrength-to-weightratio.4.5 TheChallengeAnengineer’sjobistonotonlydesignasafebridgetocarryrequiredloads,butalsotomakesurethatitiscosteffective(leastamountofmaterialsusedtosupportthedesiredload).Theobjectiveistoobtainahighstrength-to-weightratio(examplecalculationshownbelow).
Example: MaximumLoadHeld=40.0lbs BridgeWeight=20.0grams Strength-to-WeightRatio= 40lbs
20.0grams× 454grams
lb = 908.0 lbsloading
lbsweight
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4.6 TrussBridgeSpecificationsThebridgemustbedesignedandconstructedfollowingthesespecifications.Violationofthesespecificationswillresultinthejudgesrecordingzerofortheloadsupported.
1. ThematerialsprovidedinthekitaretheONLYmaterialstobeusedwhenbuildingthebridgestructure.Nomodificationstothestructuralpropertiesofthebalsawoodareallowed.Differentglueisnotallowed.
2. ThedeviceusedfortestingwillbethePitscoStructuresTestingDeviceshowninFigure1a.
3. Lamination(gluingtwopiecesofwoodalongtheirlongitudinallengthtoincreasestrength)isnotpermitted(showninFigure2).However,jointsmaybethickertoaccommodatejoiningwoodpieces.
4. Thetotallengthoftheentirebridgeshallbe12inches±0.5inches.5. Thetotalwidthofthebridgeshallbe5inches±0.5inches.6. Ablockofwoodthatis3.25incheslongby2.0incheswideby0.75inchhighmustbe
abletobepushedacrossthebridgedeck.Theblockofwoodisnecessaryforloadtestingthebridge.
7. ThePitscoSpanSupportswillbeplacedat12inchesoncenter,asshowninFigure1b.8. ThebridgeshallonlytouchthetopofthePitscoSpanSupportsasseeninFigure1b.9. Thebridgedeckmustincorporatea3/4-inchwideopeningatmid-spantoallowa5/8-
inchdiametertestingrodtopassthroughandattachtothewoodblock(seeitem6above).Therodmustbeabletopassthroughthefullheightofthebridge.
(a)PitscoStructuresTestingDevice
↑-------------------12 inches----------------↑
(b)TesterandSpanSupportDetailFigure1.BridgeTestingApparatus
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Figure2.LaminationofBalsaWoodMembersisNotPermitted4.7 FinalRoundOnthedayoftheStatewideFinals,teamswillbringtheirBalsaBridgesandsetthemupintheirdesignateddisplayarea.Thebridgewillremaininthatdesignatedareauntilloadtesting.Thefollowingcriteriawillbeusedinjudgingthebridges.
AESTHETICS:Judgeswillevaluatethebridgesforqualityofconstruction(e.g.,noexcessglue,neatcuts,symmetry,etc.)andtheresemblancetoatrussbridge.ThemostaestheticbridgeintheHighSchooldivisionandMiddleSchooldivisionwillwinanon-cashprize.PERFORMANCE:BridgeswillbeweighedandthenloadtestedonthePitscoTester.Resultswillbeusedtocalculatestrength-to-weightratio.AnybridgenotmeetingtheTrussBridgeSpecificationswillresultinjudgesrecordingzerofortheloadsupported.
4.8 NotestoTeamMentorsWorkonallphasesoftheBalsaBridgeprojectshallbedonebythestudents.Mentorassistanceistobelimitedto:
• Mentoring• Basicguidanceofthestudents• Teachingengineering,mathematicalandscientificprinciplesapplicabletotheproject• Guidingstudentsinresearch• Assistingintheproductionofthereportandpreparationofthedrawings• Overseeingthemanufacturingstagesoftheproject
Guidanceshouldbeintheformofaskingquestions,(leadingquestionsifnecessary)topromotecreativethinkingbythestudentstoidentifythescientificandengineeringprinciplesinvolved.Encouragestudentstoconsultcrediblewebsitesandotherresourcestohelpwiththeproject.Encouragestudentstotestandimprovetheirdesigns.Agoodwaytobeginisforeachstudenttodesignand/orconstructaroughprototype,testitandmakeimprovements.