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Popsicle Stick Bridge Construction Contest 2007

General

The model bridge construction competition will be held Saturday, February 24, 2007 , at 10:00 a.m. in room 226 Raymond Building on UK campus.

Models should be brought to room 226 Raymond Building between 8:45 and 9:45 a.m. on February 25. Testing the bridges takes several hours and students are welcome to stay but do not have to be present for their bridge to compete.

Rules and Specifications

  • For each bridge entered, one entry form must be submitted
  • Competition limited to high school and middle school students
  • No more than one bridge may be entered per contestant (or team).
  • Contestant(s) name(s) must be clearly and legibly marked with a dark marker on top of the bridge deck so that all bridges can be easily identified

    Note: Because of overwhelming response in previous years, the E-Day Committee has decided to limit Popsicle Bridge Contest Entries to 3 submissions per age group per school!

    • Materials

  • Craft (or popsicle) sticks (may be cut down to any length). No large popsicle sticks like those used in medical examinations.
  • Elmer’s Glue-All

    • Specifications

    1. Overall length: 65 to 75 cm.
    2. Height (not including supports): 8 to 15 cm.
    3.Width of deck (roadway): 8 to 12 cm.
    4.Height of Supports: 10 to 15 cm.
    5.Innermost distance between supports must be at least 40 cm.
    6.Solid, smooth decking (roadway surface) along the length of the bridge.
    7.Center of bridge must be designed to allow for testing with the loading ram (no cross supports above the bridge deck may be located at the center of the bridge, SEE FIGURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE).
    Note: It is very important the size restrictions be met. A bridge larger than specifications cannot be tested due to loading machine restrictions. Therefore, it will be disqualified.

    Testing

    A metal shaft (6 cm. Diameter) will apply a load vertically onto the bridge deck at the center of the span. There must be sufficient room to allow this loading shaft to reach the deck. Note: It is recommended that the deck be ‘beefed up’ at the center of the deck where the load will be applied).

    Judging

  • Judges will verify dimensions of bridges before contest.
  • Bridges not meeting specifications will be disqualified from competition, but can still be tested (if possible) for demonstration purposes only.
  • Each bridge will be weighed before testing.
  • Bridges will be loaded to destruction by increasing a load applied at the center of the bridge. The winner of the competition will be the most efficient bridge. Efficiency of the design will be calculated using the weight of the bridge and the maximum load applied before breaking.
  • The winning design will be the one with the highest efficiency (applied load / weight).

    • Prizes

    Prizes will be awarded to the top three bridges in each division following the testing in Room 226. However, if the contestant is not present, the award will be mailed to contestant’s school. Presentations will be held at 12:30 pm.

    • 1st:  New Lexmark Printer
    • 2nd:  $30 Amazon.com gift certificate
    • 3rd:  $20 Amazon.com gift certificate

    Click here to download the Entry Form (PDF)

    Contact: Michael Kalinski: kalinski@engr.uky.edu

    Chi EpsilonSponsored by Chi Epsilon