Project Overview and Problem Statement

Overview:

The AISC-ASCE National Steel Bridge Competition is an annual intercollegiate competition which provides students with an opportunity to utilize their education in a design project format. The competition exposes students to real life engineering principles such as design constraints and client specifications and stresses major engineering values such as safety and teamwork. Students are encouraged to gain maximum benefit from the competition by involvement in all parts of the design and fabrication processes.

Problem Statement:

The problem statement of the 2016 AISC-ASCE Steel Bridge Competition involved the needs of Impecunia Department of Transportation, ImpDOT. ImpDOT required the design of a generic superstructure capable of meeting design specifications for multiple sites with minimal adaptations needed. The superstructure was held under restrictions on site layout, temporary support, transportation, and access over water. In order to determine the most effective design, ImpDOT demanded a 1:10 scale model to be erected by each competing firm under replicated site conditions to be assessed on stability and capability of handling standardized vertical and lateral loads. Additionally, models were critiqued by ImpDOT engineers on durability, constructability, usability, construction speed, stiffness, efficiency, economy, and attractiveness to select the firm whose design best met project standards. Violations of rules and regulations by any firm resulted in elimination from the competition.

For full rules and regulations of this year’s competition, click here.