Open day 2024, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Department of Civil Engineering

invites participants for the first

Stickspan challenge !!
Design and build efficient bridges within the given specifications
Date of competition: 24th February, 2024
Venue: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
560012, location link:

For any queries visit https://sites.google.com/view/pvarsha/stickspan

or email to the coordinators : Varsha P and Trisha Chakravorty
bridgeopendayiisc@gmail.com

This challenge is open for all students in any engineering college. Both individual
and group (maximum three members per group) entries are welcome. Design and
construct a model bridge following the given specifications. Bring your models
and one-page analysis on the competition day. The judges will test the bridges.
The top three winners will receive awards. All participants will receive a
certificate and a memento.
Important dates:
All participants must register for the competition by filling up the Google form
https://forms.gle/s86TTWY149cwJSBz9
Registration deadline is 20th February, 24
Bring your bridge and analysis on the competition day (24 th Feb) morning, and
submit them to the organizers by 10:00 AM.
Bridge testing will begin at 12:00 Noon on the same day, in presence of the
participants. Awards will be given on the same day afternoon.

Venue: Department of Civil Engineering, IISc

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5sNFwzEtwLuhpAi27
 Specifications and rules for the Stickspan challenge

1. Materials

a. Popsicle sticks (ice-cream sticks) of width 20 mm and thickness 2 mm

(length may be adjusted), made up of wood (plastic, metal, or any other
synthetic material is not allowed).
b. Glue of any kind
c. Board pins
d. No other materials may be used. The bridge may not be stained,
painted, or coated in any fashion with any foreign substance.

2. Construction
- Clear span: 30 cm
- Width of deck: 5 cm
- Total depth of bridge including deck: 10 cm

Participants have the creative freedom to design and construct their bridges
based on the provided specifications. The architecture and type of bridge
are entirely open to the imagination, allowing for diverse and innovative
solutions. There are no additional restrictions beyond the specified
dimensions. Let your creativity shine!

3. Analysis

Along with the bridge model, each group is required to submit a brief
writeup of maximum 1000 words (about one or two pages) highlighting
the motivation behind choice of model and analysis of bridge with rough
calculations.

4. Test set-up and loading

Prior to testing, the bridge shall be supported on a flat surface 2 cm from

each end, therefore there needs to be a provision to set that up (refer to
sample diagram below). Load will be applied at the mid-point of the deck
 and will continue until a deflection of 10 mm at mid-span). Hence, there
must be clearance at mid-span so that the load can be applied. The load
carried by bridge when the deflection limit is reached will be defined as
the load carrying capacity (P). In case the bridge collapses/ breaks before
reaching the deflection limit, the final load will be deemed the value of P.

5. Qualification and judgement of winners

All construction and material requirements will be checked prior to testing.

Bridges failing to meet these requirements will be disqualified. Weight of
bridge (W) shall be measured including all supports.

Two factors shall be considered for declaring the winners: 1) highest

𝑷
structural efficiency of bridge, defined as the ratio, 𝒆 =
𝑾
(Load carrying capacity/weight of bridge) and 2) judgement of
analysis.

Reference picture