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Questions & Answers
Q: I am building my bridge for the contest and was wondering if the loading spot should be on the top or the bottom or if it matters?
A: The loading point is very near the bottom of the bridge. Refer to Figure 1 on the contest rules. http://www.pec.org/BBContestRules.html.
Q: I have a student whose bridge design is basically an I-beam that will be no taller than 1.5 cm, so the load plate will just sit on top of the I-beam. Is it OK for the load plate to hang over the edges? In other words, can her bridge be less than 5 cm wide?
A: The load plate may overhang the edges, and the bridge may be less than 5 cm wide. So the bridge appears to be acceptable.
Q: For the bridge building competition, can you please tell us what the dimensions of the loading rod will be? We know the dimensions of the plate but do not know the rod. We need to know this year because the rod need to fit inside most of my student’s bridges.
A: The loading rod is 1 inch in diameter. However, please remember that the entire 2” square loading plate must pass down through the bridge to the loading plane.
Q: If you have a moment would you please look at the spec. sheet for this year’s bridge. The loading plane is a max. of 15 mm, but nowhere in the written specs. does it mention this. I just want to make sure we adhere to the 15 mm max. rule.
A: Yes, the 15 mm rule applies.
Q: When the rules state that the minimum width must be 40 mm at all points, what points are they referring to?
A: This statement does not refer to any specific points along the bridge length. Rather, it is intended to imply that the bridge shall be at least 40 mm wide along its entire length, end to end.
Q: The rules also state that the loading plane can be no lower than 60mm and maximum of 80 mm. Does this mean that no supports can go under that area? That area of 160 mm x 80mm must be totally clear?
A: The 160 mm long by 60 mm high area shown in Figure 1 must be clear. (This requirement is unique to this year’s competition, and is intended to simulate a bridge that must go “up and over” an obstruction.)
Professional Engineers of Colorado
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