Acaccelerated Bridge Construction
The steel bridge competition consists of three scored sections. These sections include weight, deflection, and construction time. With fabrication completed, the weight and deflection portions of the bridge are mostly set in stone. The final variable score is the time of construction on site during the regional competition at NJIT. To ensure a quick build time ABC (Accelerated Bridge Construction) techniques were implemented. The major techniques that were implemented included using multiple piers, consistent building steps, and assemblies. Multiple piers allow for the bridge to be supported without a team member needing to hold it. This results in more efficient construction as team members can constantly be moving and building. Consistent building steps result in a methodical and repeated process of building the bridge efficiently and without delay. The final technique was using assemblies. Assemblies are two members that are connected in the construction zone and then moved by two members into position on the bridge. These are beneficial because they allowed the team to span the river and not have to connect the upper and lower sections once in place. Overall these methods have allowed for extremely quick build times that will make the team competitive at the competition.
