2013 Competition Guide

 

Welcome & Introduction

Rules & Clarifications

Scoring Spreadsheet
v01: Soon

General Competition Information

Design Tips

Eligibility Requirements
Paper Competition
Business Meeting

Judges Training Meeting

Team Captain Meeting

Display Judging

Site Layout

Preconstruction

Construction

Post Construction

Lateral Load Test

Vertical Load Tests
- Loading Devices
- Deflection Measurement
- Sway Measurement

Bridge Weight

Data Entry

History & Results

 

Preconstruction

Competitor Preparation:

  • Be at the site on time and with all your bridge parts, pieces, tools, etc. and all the required safety equipment.
  • When directed by the judges move your bridge pieces into the designated staging area.
  • Layout your members, fasteners, piers, and tools according to the rules.

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Host Equipment/Preparation:

  • Have the construction site completely ready prior to the start of the competition
  • Assign a Marshal to the bridge. The Marshal should have the judging forms for the bridge.
  • A set of the rules and current clarifications at each construction lane.
  • A measuring tape.
  • A strong magnet.
  • Masking or other tape for marking members that need to be watched during construction.
  • Scale for checking weight of heavy members.
  • Member size box.
  • A clipboard with pencil for each construction lane.

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Staging area with bridge laid out and ready to go
 

Once the team begins to move their equipment and materials into the staging area, the judges can start checking the members for compliance with the rules using the judging checklist obtained from the bridge Marshal. The judging checklist is to be printed from the scoring spreadsheet.

Also ensure that all competitors are wearing the required safety equipment correctly. See rule 11.1.6 for details.

Note: Everything that goes into the staging area is subject to the rules whether it is used in the bridge or not. Any noncompliant item will be penalized.

Competitors are responsible to make sure that members, fasteners, tools, piers, and other items are placed as specified in the rules.

Competitors are encouraged to be efficient in laying out their items so as to not inhibit the flow of the competition.

After all the judging checklists has been completed and all items checked, the team captain is to sign the bottom of the preconstruction checklist.  The team captain's signature indicates that they understand and accept any penalties that have been levied. The team captain should be given time to check the rules and make any appeals necessary to the head judge before signing the form.

Common Violations

There are several common violations that seem to with disappointing frequency.  Some are design issues, others are either fabrication or erection issues.  The following sections are intended to warn bridge designers and to alert the judges.

Rule 10.2.3.2: Member size limits.

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Rule 10.2.3.2
 

 


Rule 11.6.1
 

It would appear that the majority of violations to this rule result from designers pushing the specified limits. The judges will try to orient that member in the most advantageous position to get it in the box, but if it doesn't fit EASILY into the box a penalty is imposed. It would be wise to allow a little "wiggle room".

Rules 10.2.4: Fastener Specifications

In the 2003 season there were a number of teams that modified their bolts and nuts contrary to the rules.  There have been questions recent years that lead the rules committee to think that there are still some competitors who would like to modify their bolts!  The bolts may not be ground to a point on their ends.  Bolts or nuts welded to members become part of the member that they are welded to, and by the definition of rule 10.2.4.1 may no longer be considered a fastener.

Rule 11.2.6:  Tool Size

A tool must not weigh more than 20 pounds.  A tool or unassembled part of a tool must not exceed 3' 0" x 6" x 4" in dimension. Look for these tools in both the preconstruction and construction phase.

NOTE:  Starting in 2012 this rule is different than in prior years.  Read it closely to determine the implications.

Rule 11.6.1:  Items Layout

Read this section carefully!  There are a number of specific requirements about where particular types of items can be placed.

Watch for how competitors layout their items in the staging yard. As in years past, teams were required to provide clearance between items and the items must be touching the ground. With the 2010 rules this changed with the requirement for certain items to be in designated locations in the staging yard and fasteners may be in contact with each other, however every temporary pier, member, tool, and fastener must be in contact with the ground. This change as been maintained in 2013.  In the provided image, some of the nuts and bolts are not in contact with the ground and hence are illegal. This must be fixed before timed construction.