ENGINEERING TRIPOS PART IIA - 2012/2013

Project GD3 - Model Bridge

Leaders: Dr C Middleton email: crm11 and Dr M Elshafie email: me254

Project Type: Group
Project Category: Design
Prerequisites: 3D4 essential
Timing: Thursdays 9-11am plus afternoons, and Mondays 11-1pm

SUMMARY

The project concerns the design, building and testing of a model motorway bridge in either steel or reinforced concrete, and embraces computational, theoretical and practical effets. Students work in groups of three or four. Each group designs, builds and tests a structure in one material. In addition, all students prepare a preliminary design for a structure in the other material.

AIMS

• To extend students' experience of structural design using software and analysis techniques within the practical constraints of time, materials and Codes of Practice.

• The bridge is to span 2m resting on several supports. It is required to carry a rolling load of 5kN without undue displacement and 10kN without collapse. Students will build one half of the bridge, a parallel structure (together with the necessary reaction frame and loading jack) being provided for the test.
• The steel structures are likely to be plate girder sections. These will be fabricated by students in the workshop.
• The concrete structures will be cast on their side on plywood formwork. Students will fabricate formwork and the wire reinforcing cages.
• The structures of all groups will be tested successively to failure on the final afternoon of the project.

ACTIVITIES

Week 1: Allocation of students to groups and construction material. Introductory lectures and individual preliminary designs, followed by detailed design of the chosen group structure. First report (15 marks), on the preliminary designs, to be submitted by the first timetabled session of week 2.

Weeks 2, 3: Completion of group detailed designs. Fabrication of steel structures and of concrete formwork and reinforcement. Preparation of second (main) report (40 marks), on the design of the chosen structure, to be submitted by the first timetabled session of week 4.

Week 4: Casting of concrete structures. Preliminary design by each student of a structure in the alternative material. Testing of all structures. Preparation of final report (25 marks), on the alternative design and on the test results (with critical analysis), for submission at 4pm on Thursday 6th June.

ASSESSMENT

Format: Submission Date - Marks

Interim report 1: Thursday 16 May 2013 - 15 marks

Interim report 2: Thursday 30 May 2013 - 40 marks

Final report 3: 4pm Thursday 6 June 2013 - 25 marks

Last updated: December 2012