The UVM Steel Bridge Team placed 5th overall in the New England Regional Steel Bridge Competition held at Tufts University on April 10, 2010. Out of 17 universities that participated, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology placed 1st, the University of Connecticut placed 2nd, the Universite Laval placed 3rd, the University of New Hampshire placed 4th, the University of Vermont placed 5th, and Merrimack College placed 6th.

"This is truly the beginning of a new era at UVM,” said Brendin Kerin, the bridge leader. “Our team’s results were the best of any previous UVM team."

The overall goal of the competition is to have the most efficient and inexpensive bridge. The competition categories include: display, construction speed, lightness, stiffness, construction economy, and structural efficiency. To quality to compete, bridges had to fit within a 3' 6" x 6" x 6" rectangular box. Students were judged on the quick assemble of the 20-foot-long steel bridges designed and fabricated prior to arrival according to specific design requirements. Once constructed each bridge was tested for lateral sway by a horizontal load of 50 lbs, and by 2500 lbs of vertical load measuring total aggregate deflection. Each element of the entire competition -- from construction time, amount of builders, and weight due to deflection -- equated back to cost.

For more information contact: Brendan Kerin Brendan.Kerin@uvm.edu

To view results visit: http://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/asce/SteelBridgeComp2010/results.htm

For more information visit: http://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/asce/SteelBridgeComp2010/