17 high schools to compete at Purdue's Bridge Bust
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Teams from 17 Indiana and Illinois high schools will construct bridges only to see them destroyed during the 33rd annual Bridge Bust contest Feb. 24 at Purdue University.
The competition, administered by the Purdue chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the third floor of Stewart Center. The event is free and open to the public.
The high schools will bring 106 teams and about 200 students.
Teams will assemble the bridges from 20 sticks of balsa wood and a bottle of glue. Most bridges are approximately 2 feet long and 8 inches high. The teams will be judged on loading efficiency, aesthetic qualities and structural concepts. Winners will be named in each category.
Loading efficiency will be determined by pouring sand into buckets that will be hung from the bridges. The bridge that can hold the most weight wins that category.
Michael Kreger, professor of civil engineering, will give the keynote address at 10 a.m. Bridge breaking will be done from about 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Event chairman Ashley Lane, a civil engineering major from Earleville, Ill., said Bridge Bust is designed to give high school students a hands-on experience while learning about science and engineering.
"Our goal is to help the students learn about civil engineering while having fun doing it," Lane said. "Through Bridge Bust, students learn about many aspects of engineering, including design, efficiency and aesthetics."
High schools scheduled to compete are West Lafayette, Benton Central, West Central, North Vermillion, South Vermillion, Sheridan, Kokomo, Noblesville, Wheeler, Plymouth, Park Tudor, Andrean, Triton Central, Milan, Rochester. Westville and Paxton-Buckley-Loda.
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Source: Ashley Lane, lane5@purdue.edu