Darbhanga College of Engineering

TRUSS BRIDGE

Event Description:

Truss Bridge is a bridge constructing event in which participants have to exhibit their
construction skills by designing a bridge using trusses. A truss bridge is a bridge with its
loadbearing structures composed of a series of wooden or metal triangles, known as trusses.
Trusses are popular for bridge-building because they use a relatively small amount of material
for the load they can support. Commonly, they are used in covered bridges, railroad bridges,
and military bridges. In this event, you experience the world of construction in a miniature
form by constructing a truss bridge. In this modern era, Hydraulic Assisted Bridge (HAB) is
also used to provide feasible transportation.

Team Specification:

• The team can have a minimum of 2 members and maximum of 4 members.

Event Structure:

The Problem Statement is to design a truss bridge using popsicle sticks (ice cream
sticks) satisfying the stated constraints and be able to lift the weight using hydraulic
power.

Round – 1

Round 1 will be conducted in two stages.

Stage - 1
• Team members will have to describe their truss bridge.
• The Truss bridge will be evaluated as per the specified dimension in the
rulebook.
 Stage – 2
• The structure made will be tested till failure.

Testing Criteria:

The bridge model will be loaded till failure. The maximum deflection at the point of yielding
and the load at that moment will be used to evaluate the structure.

Factors of Evaluation:

Stage 1
• Explanation- 20% Score
• Aesthetics of bridge- 20% Score

Stage 2
• Efficiency of the bridge- 50% Score
• Hydraulic- 10% Score

● If dimension specifications are not met- minimum of 10% penalty per specification (of
total score) as per rule violation.

Rules and Guidelines:

• The maximum length of the bridge that is allowed for participation in the event is 45
cm.
• The minimum height of the closed bridge should be 15 cm.

• The minimum gap between the base of the bridge should be 10 cm.
• The overlapping of one stick over the others should not exceed by 20% (DOUBLING
OF STICKS IS NOT PERMITTED).
• The bridge must weigh 300 grams or less.

• Use of superglues is not allowed.

• The decisions of judges and event coordinators will be final and abiding.
• Use of any other material such as thread etc. leads to rejection.
• All participants are required to report 15 min before their allotted slot to the reporting
desk, being late will be subjected to disqualification.
• Any misbehaviour of participants during the event may lead to disqualification.
• The jury's decision will be final and abiding.