The team began working on the project in the fall semester, after AISC and ASCE released the competition rules in September. The team completed all necessary research before completing five different alternative designs compliant with the rules. The 5 design consisted of a beam bridge with a Howe under truss, a beam bridge with an over truss, a Pratt style truss, a beam with an undertruss over the center span, and a beam bridge with a truss arch. Each design was created in visual analysis and was able to predict a deflection based on each of the presented 11 loading cases in the rules. The final design selected by the team was a modified version of the beam bridge with a truss arch.
The bridge was selected due to its low deflection and ability to be constructed quickly, which would benefit the team in competition. Following the bridge design completion, connections were then designed throughout the bridge. Double shear pin connections, as well as bearing connections, will be used along the bridge. Materials for the final design were ordered and are expected to arrive before the end of the year. During winter break, the team plans on fabricating the bridge based on CAD drawings produced by the team, which will allow for the spring semester to be dedicated to construction practice before the regional competition in April.