Competitive State-of-the-Art Structural Engineering

Abstract

The annual Steel Bridge competition was created over two decades ago to foster excellence and ingenuity among civil engineering undergraduate and graduate students across the nation. The steel bridge competition is one of many great opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities associated with the civil engineering field. The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) has a long history of strong performance. We are nationally known for placing well in both the regional and national competition. Students design and manufacture 1/10 scale bridges with which they compete in a regional competition and if successful a national competition. The Pacific Northwest (PNW) Regional conference is usually held mid-April each year. Much preparation and work led up to this high point of the year. The steel bridge competition teaches students valuable skills that few other engineers have the chance or ability to learn, making steel bridge team members extremely valuable employees to their future employers. Together, students tackle and overcome tremendously technical work under conditions such as extreme sleep deprivation and strenuous class loads. As a team we overcame severe financial trials, technical challenges, and tight deadlines. The 2015 competition was held at the Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. The UAF Steel Bridge team swept the competition by winning seven out of seven categories and will compete for the national title on May 23rd in Kansas City. In addition to designing and building a steel bridge, members of the team also fulfilled hundreds of hours of community service and public speaking. They also support and comprise the core of the UAF Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student organizations. Steel bridge members sacrifice time with loved and dear ones as well as sleep and time allotted for homework in order to conquer one common goal; to design and manufacture the best bridge in the Pacific Northwest!!!