18th Annual BSCES/MassPEP

Model Bridge Competition

Welcome to the Model Bridge Contest Web Site!

I am your Contest Coordinator, Ana Cristina Fragoso, and you can feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have. 

Thank you to all the teams and teachers that turned out for our kickoff on October 20th, 2011.  The news is out -- our new materials are Starbucks coffee stirrers and Elmer's white glue.  Like last year, the point of loading will not be announced until all bridges are on the judges' table the day of the contest.  This year, there will be no hinge requirement.  So, everybody, get started and HAVE FUN!  CLICK HERE FOR THE SPECS/RULES

Please, come to the kickoff!  It is at Northeastern University's Cabral Center in the O'Bryant Center for African American Studies (40 Leon Street) from 3PM to 5PM on October 21.  Click here for directions.

The contest will be held at the Curry Student Center at Northeastern University on Saturday, February 4th, 2012.   Last year, the Ultimate Load Winner was Marblehead Veterans Middle School, and Holliston High School is the winner in the Aesthetics category.  CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS.

Every year, participants in the competition construct a model bridge to a given set of specifications using various materials. Last year the bridges will be constructed using craft sticks and Elmer's glue.  The BIG difference last year was that we are not telling you where on the bridge the load will be placed.  This will be randomly chosen at the beginning of the competition and be the same for everyone.  The other difference is a requirement that at least 3 locations need to be linked together with "Pins" (Roseart color pencils) instead of by glue, so you get to see how a real truss bridges work.    Specifications needed to be followed closely. 

Students can get a short introduction to the contest by clicking here.

We need engineer mentors! Click here to volunteer!

The Model Bridge Competition is jointly sponsored by the Infrastructure Group of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (BSCES) and the Massachusetts Pre-engineering Program (MassPEP) in collaboration with the Northeastern's NUPrime Program and the Massachusetts Highway Department (MassHighway) . Over 150 students dedicate months of effort to design and build their model bridges. The competition culminates with a panel of local experts judging and testing the bridges for aesthetics, strength and efficiency.

There are a number of books and Web Sites that provide insightful information, but the one you all should check out is http://bridgecontest.usma.edu/manual.htm

This contest has a "sister" contest you all should check out - the Online Bridge Competition. This contest is open to all students K-12 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Students use free software put together by West Point and available for free download to design the cheapest bridge they can that can carry the truck. When you click on the truck button, your design comes to life and if it can't make it - CRASH! Here's the link: Click here to check it out!

Representative:
Reed Brockman
reed.brockman@aecom.com           Phone Number: 617-240-7979

WE'RE ON YOUTUBE!