Bridge Building

[TheBigDog]

I found this a couple of years ago and I occasionally rediscover it and have some fun. It is an annual event sponsored by West Point for building a virtual bridge at the lowest cost. It is designed to promote interest in engineering. I though it might make a neat contest here to see who could build the lowest cost bridge. It is a free download. You don't have to enter the official contest to use the software.

http://bridgecontest.usma.edu/

Or maybe have a Hypography entry?

Bill

[pgrmdave]

I've been playing around with it for a few days, it's rather fun
I've been able to get the cost down to $198,714.13 so far.

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by pgrmdave

I've been playing around with it for a few days, it's rather fun
I've been able to get the cost down to $198,714.13 so far.

It is fun. I tend to get lost in it once I get started. My lowest cost right now is $174,915.11. I excavated to 4 meters, and used a pier. I then built two symentrical spans using only two bar types to keep the setup costs low from the manufacturer.

I have never been able to keep the costs as low with bigger bridges.

Bill

[Jay-qu]

cool - I used to play a game like this, competition would be interesting

[TheBigDog]

$172,130.65 Same bridge as above, but spent some time fine tuning the construction.

Bill

[alexander]

trying to get it to run in wine

[alexander]

err guys, we got ways to go, need to get it to around 130 g area to be considered good, under 133 and we are simply da best...

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by alexander

err guys, we got ways to go, need to get it to around 130 g area to be considered good, under 133 and we are simply da best...

If you are looking at results from previous years, they have adjusted the cost model year over year. The software is essentially unchanged, but by changing the manufacturing and material costs and properties they can insure that the same designs won't work in every competition. In the 2005 the best preliminary round design was $150,980. In 2004 it was $137,066. In 2003 it was $120,100. In the finals they adjust it again so all the teams need to adjust their thinking to the new parameters that they see for the first time at the competion. I am happy with the $172,130. Send me a message and I will mail the file so you can see how I did it.

Bill

[geek77]

I've got a bridge optimized at $172,132.76 and need someone's help to get any farther.

Anyone Interested?

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by geek77

I've got a bridge optimized at $172,132.76 and need someone's help to get any farther.

Anyone Interested?

Help!?! And give up my $2.00 advantage? Biggest thing I learned is to look at the grid that displays the forces acting on all of the members. Getting members that are under compression as short as possible is key. And when making an 'arch' out of members, try to get them to the same length so you can make them all the same weight, thus reducing your setup costs.

Does anyone want to wager rep points on who can get the lowest cost bridge by, say, Sunday, at midnight? Winner gets rep from all participants?

Bill