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1999 COMPETITION RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS DESCRIPTION: The competition will consist of the construction and testing of a model timber bridge on the home site of each team. ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to all student chapters of American Society of Civil Engineers and Forest Products Society in the United States and Canada. Joint and multiple entries from one school will be accepted. COMPETITION SPECIFICATIONS: Each contestant (team) will be required to design, build and test a bridge constructed from wood structural members. The wood used in this project must be from a commercially available species. DESIGN CRITERIA: Design Span: 3.3 meters from center line to center line of supports. The maximum length of an individual piece in any member shall not exceed 1.4 meters. There is no length limitation on built-up and laminated members provided that the individual pieces, including plywood, used in making the member do not exceed the specified maximum length. Maximum width of supporting base plates is 60 mm. Horizontal and Vertical Clearances: 1.40 m and 0.90 m, respectively (see sketch). Test Load: 20 kN for 1 hour. (See test setup for location of loading blocks.) Load Application and Deflection Measurements: Load to be applied at 5 equal increments of 4 kN each. Deflection readings to be collected at each load increment. Then, four deflection readings to be collected at 15-minute intervals during the 1 hour load duration. Maximum Vertical Bridge Deflection: Maximum allowed bridge deflection is eight (8) mm as recorded at midspan of the longitudinal beam receiving the greatest loading. Subtraction from deflection due to compression of supports will not be allowed. Maximum Vertical Deck Deflection: Maximum allowed net deck deflection is two (2) mm as measured under the centroid of the loading point where the deck is experiencing maximum deflection under full loading. Deck deflection shall be adjusted by subtracting the average deflection recorded in the two longitudinal beams immediately to the left and right of the selected loading point. See "Test Setup" sketch for details on placement of the four loading points. Note that the loading points may be moved as a 4-point unit to the left or right transversely as needed to assure that the above monitored load point (for deck deflection) is over the point where maximum deck deflection is expected. NOTE: No transverse floor beam or other deck stiffener is allowed within 200 mm in either direction longitudinally from any of the 4 loading points. Bridge Deck: The bridge must have a wood deck designed to effectively transfer loads at all locations on its surface to the support structure. It must be capable of supporting an asphaltic wearing surface, i.e. it cannot be an open grid. Laminated plywood sheets, oriented strand board (OSB), and particleboard sheeting will not be allowed for the deck. The deck must be capable of supporting the complete 4-load combination moved anywhere on the deck surface. Prestressing: Prestressing will be allowed provided it is done 48 hours before testing. Bridge Weight: Bridge must be weighed before testing and must include all bridge parts forming a part of the bridge as a structural system. Curb: The curb does not need to resist a force but must be connected to the bridge. The curb may be a part of arch or truss members. DOCUMENTATION: Contestants will be required to submit by Mail:
Note: In pictures "a, b and e" above, try to avoid background and foreground clutter and be sure to save negatives, as an 8" x 10" enlargement may be requested of award winning entries. 3. Drawings – Mail a hard copy of bridge drawings entered online. Must be in adequate detail to show spacing and size of longitudinal stringers, floor beams, and deck members and must show their relation to selected loading points, especially the selected deck evaluation load point, from both end and side views. REPORT: A technical report must be submitted online (via Internet) using templates provided and will include:
JUDGING: AWARDS:
DEADLINES: Deadline for online entry (www.msrcd.org) is April 21, 1999. Deadline for receipt of mailed material (video, photographs, and drawings) is also April 21, 1999. Mail to SW Mississippi RC&D, 747 Industrial Park Rd., NE, Brookhaven, MS 39601. Enclose following information with mailed material: College or University
Faculty advisor Contact person. All materials received by RC&D will become the property of RC&D. RESULTS: Winners will be announced online by May 5, 1999. In addition, the full entries of all participants will be released online and available for all contestants as well as any Internet user to review. Each can learn from the successes and failures of others! The results will also be publicized through various publications. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Submit questions by e-mail to southwest@msrcd.org, or contact Bennie Hutchins, SW MS RC&D, phone 601-833-5539, fax 601-835-0054. Check Q & A/Updates regularly for valuable competition updates, rules clarifications, etc. |