Date: February 2022

Role: Designer, Builder

Using 3/32" bass wood sticks, I was tasked with designing and building a bridge that met the specifications provided while holding up the most weight compared to the bridges own weight. Using what I had learned about bridges, I came up with a design that took advantage of the specifications allowing the bridge to pinch the side of the walls holding it up. I focused much of the strength of the bridge on a large central beam and used supports to reinforce that beams strength. While I originally added a truss structure on top, through testing, I learned that it just added weight while not strengthening the bridge much, so I ended up removing it. In the end the bridge held 200 pounds while only weighing 50 grams, earning me first place in my class. From this project, I learned the importance of iteration in the design process as I was able to continually improve my bridge.