Beam Bridge in Action!

Human beings first made bridges using wooden logs, planks and lashing together sticks, bamboo poles and tree branches. These were the first beam bridges, and they are everywhere!

List of Supplies:

• Sponge
• Permanent Marker
• Ruler
• Something to create a gap for the bridge

Draw lines 1/2" apart on the bridge, front and back.

Lay the sponge across a gap to create a bridge.

Now, press down on the middle of the sponge bridge, and see what happens.

These bridges are the simplest and the least expensive bridges to build. A beam bridge consists of a horizontal beam that is supported at the ends by land, columns or piers, just like the logs that sit across a stream.

On a beam bridge, the weight of the beam (bridge) and any additional weight (cars, people or whatever else) on the bridge is transferred to the supporting structure on the bottom.

When a load (weight) is placed on the beam bridge, the top of the bridge is pushed down by a compressive force and tensile force stretches the bottom of the bridge.

    

For heavy car and railroad traffic, the beam bridges are replaced by stronger truss bridges. 

For information and project ideas on truss bridges, please check out - 

Truss Bridge Information

Foam Truss Bridge Project

Straw Truss Bridge Project

Have a great day!

February 2018 The Tech Challenge Update

I LOVE this program.

My children and I have been participating in the Tech Challenge since 2013, and after five years, we're taking a break this year. However, I'm thinking about participating as a volunteer this year.

This year's challenge is called Drop & Dash.

The Tech Challenge 2018:  Imagine you’re at the top of a mountain. Or a cliff. Or a building. You need to get your supplies to a location at the bottom and up a hill. You’re all ready to go when you find …
Your batteries are dead.

You can’t scrap the mission. So what do you do?

The challenge: Design and build a device to survive a drop and deliver supplies. No batteries allowed!

The best part? It's not too late to participate. 

Registration is open until 3/31/2018. 

Info session/advisor training/team workshop are still available on 2/3/2018.

This year's competition is on 4/28 and 4/29.

And on the competition day, everyone can visit the Tech Museum for FREE.

Here are some pictures from LAST year's competition:

After a long day of test trials.

We went with several prototypes.

In the Pit on the Competition Day.

Engineering Design Interview.

Device Performance.

Award Ceremony.

Engineering Design Interview for another team.

Device Performance.