West Point Bridge Design Contest

[Mark McLeod]

I've always liked the bridge building contests.
It expands your horizon so quickly.

I'd never have believed 2 oz of balsa could hold 1000 lbs...

[A_Reed]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

I'd never have believed 2 oz of balsa could hold 1000 lbs...

...Or 256 bricks on 3x5 note cards only limited by the professor's concerns for the safety of my group as the stack reached about 8-9ft tall.

[Pjohn1959]

Thanks for this update Jason.

I have been using this program in my classes for the past 4 years, but only have the 2005 version. Now I see the 2010 version will be available after Jan. 28. I can't wait to see the changes.

[scottydoh]

I used this software all the way back in middle school, nearly 8 years ago now, for an in class bridge contest. We had to design in West Point, then actually build it out of basswood. Not a single person in the class failed. The software really makes engineering and forces easy to understand, even at an elementary level.

And now that I know a little more about engineering and structural systems, I might just have to enter this contest.