ABOUT
CONTACT
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12-2 PM
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ASCE Lounge
TUES
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2 -4 PM
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ASCE Lounge
WED
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12 -2 PM
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ASCE Lounge
THUR
Workdays function as a way of gathering our members to design and fabricate the bridge. They serve as a supplement to the curriculum with a hands-on approach to teach members about the process of completing this project while being competitive.
Tentative Year-Plan for Work Days
Fall
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During the fall we will have both design and fabrication workdays. Design workdays will focus on the design of the actual competition bridge. This process includes a general global model, SAP analysis and breakdown of individual components, and fine-tuning our model to limit the weight and number of pieces. Fabrication workdays will focus on the design, fabrication, and testing of the mini-bridge project. Additionally, these workdays will function to bring to life the renderings of the design workdays through space truss construction and testing in the latter half of the quarter.
Winter
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Winter Quarter marks the start of fabricating the competition bridge. Members can expect to work in the structural lab as well as the student machine shop using heavy duty machinery to measure, cut, grind, and weld until the design of our bridge comes to life! Additionally, members can look forward to trying out to be on the Competition Build Team.
RESOURCES
Steel Bridge is a competition where students work year round to design, fabricate, erect, and test a steel structure that meets design specifications. The problem statement requests an 18 foot steel bridge spanning over a river that can sustain 2500 lb. It is a unique project where students are involved in the creation of a structure in its entirety, from conceptual design to physical construction. We gain experience with real world engineering issues such as spatial constraints, material properties, strength, serviceability, fabrication, safety, aesthetics, project management, and cost. The Steel Bridge team strives for effective teamwork, professionalism, and efficient use of structural steel.
In the spring of 1987 Robert E. Shaw, member of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) began the first ever Steel Bridge competition at Michigan State University. The first steel bridges were massive and tough. The first competition consisted of 3 schools: Lawrence Technological University, Wayne State University, and Michigan State University. Then in 1992 Fromy Rosenberg, the new Director of AISC College Relations started the first ever National Student Steel Bridge Competition. Rules were added and changed to continually challenge students to innovate and optimize as now hundreds of schools have joined the fray.
Each year, we compete at the Pacific Southwest Conference which will be hosted in Arizona for the 2014-2015 school year. This conference is a gateway for the AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) National Competition.
STEEL BRIDGE COMPETITION
The design process begins at the beginning of Fall Quarter. We work collaboratively with professors, graduate students and fellow undergrads to try to make the best, most efficient and visually pleasing bridge possible. The goal is to design the bridge to be easily constructible. Because the nature of the competition is to have an efficient bridge that is easy to put together, it is our aim to keep the number of pieces, including nuts and bolts, to a minimum to simplify the construction process while keeping the strength of the bridge.
PROJECT WORKDAYS/EVENTS
DESIGN
One unique thing about UCLA is that we have a completely student constructed bridge. The only parts we have externally made are the special connections that need to be water jetted. Throughout Winter Quarter, we hold work days at which students from the civil engineering school, as well as other engineering disciplines, come out to help fabricate! The jobs range from filing cut steel down to welding connections. We also try to give everyone a chance to try different jobs to make sure that our members can be a part of the entire process. The last step to our pre-competition phase is to orchestrate construction. We try different combinations of people in order to get the fastest construction time, and then practice, practice, practice!
CONSTRUCTION
WORKDAYS
THE SECTIONS
SPONSORSHIP
MATERIALS/RESOURCES NEEDED
No matter how large or small the project is, keeping budget is always a concern. And in any student-run organization, raising money is a major issue. It would be an understatement to say how grateful and appreciative the members of Steel Bridge will be if you could donate the following. Please contact Project Mangers Alicia Pedneault and/or Paul Lee if you are interested in sponsoring the team.
HOW TO JOIN
Feel free to show up to our workdays anytime throughout the year! There is no prior knowledge or experience required to participate. For information and updates on workdays and other events, visit the “UCLA Steel Bridge” Facebook page and stay tuned to the ASCE weekly email and ASCE website for the announcment of workday times.
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Sign-ups will be available at the Open House, and people who sign up will be emailed shortly after on information on the first workweek as well as the fall workday schedule.
Work days will be posted on our website, or you may contact our project managers more directly:
COMPETITION
At the beginning of Spring Quarter, the regional competition is held at one of the competing schools. On the first day, the bridges are judged on their appearance. On the third day, every school competes for the best construction time. After the bridges are built they are loaded on the midspan and cantilever sections as well as laterally. All of these factors add up to a total cost, which determines who wins the competition and continues onto nationals!
Fall Prototype
A36 3/16" Steel Plate 1'x4', Quantity: 4
A513 1/2"x1/2" 16GA Tube, Quantity: 50 ft
A513 3/4"x3/4" 16GA Tube, Quantity: 50 ft
A500 1" SCH 40 Pipe, Quantity: 50 ft
A500 3/4" SCH 40 Pipe, Quantity: 50 ft
A500 1/2" SCH 40 Pipe, Quantity: 50 ft
Competition Bridge
Various sizes of square and circular tubing. Based on last year:
¾” Square tubing, Quantity: 320 ft
½” Square tubing, Quantity: 30 ft
Jig Table
Plywood, nails, rulers, nail setting kit
Tools
Angle grinder, impact wrenches (2), bench grinders, grinder replacements, replacement blades
Steel
1” & 0.5” square tubing, 3/8” diameter rod, etc.
Welding
Welding class, refills on gas tanks and welding wire
Connections
Water-jet and plate connections, nuts, bolts
Non-Steel Materials
Gloves, safety goggles, ear plugs, dust masks, steel wool, tarp, masking tape, extension cords, spray paint, sharpies, 4x4 wood, impact wrench head, socket head, adaptors, C-clamps, acetone, rags
TEACHING
This year we will be hosting various tutorials on design programs such as SAP2000, AutoCAD, and Google Sketch-up. Additionally, members can expect to learn about basic steel and connection design during workdays as it pertains to this project. Members of all ages are welcome to take an active role in this project.
STEEL BRIDGE
The Steel Bridge team has undoubtedly demonstrated hard work and inspiring dedication to their project. During the Winter Quarter, they were in the fabrication stage of their project. Their goal was to load test their bridge before competition to measure the deflection and add reinforcements if necessary. They have high aspirations for this year and certainly are well equipped and prepared to meet them.
Where are they now?
