Rules Book

1. Materials
 Popsicle sticks
 Hot glue

Materials and tools will be provided by CENNOVATION 2019 committee. A glue gun, 2 Glue sticks
and approx. 700 ± 50 Popsicle sticks will be provided per team.
Only the provided materials can be used for truss bridge construction otherwise the truss will
be disqualified.

2. Rules and Regulations

 The maximum number of Popsicle sticks allowed for the bridge is 250.
 Breaking or resizing of the Popsicle stick is not allowed.
 The horizontal or vertical (straight) joints of the Popsicle stick cannot be more than
12 mm (figure-1).
 Inclined joints cannot be more than 16 mm (figure-2).
 The length of the truss should be within 400 mm to 450 mm. But it must have a minimum
clear span of 370 mm (figure-3, 4).
 The outer width of the truss must not be more than the length of one standard Popsicle
stick (approx. 11 cm) (figure-8).
 The inner clear width of the truss must not be less than 7 cm (figure-8).
 Deck trusses are allowed but they must have a minimum clear span of 370mm (figure-5).
 Maximum 12 (Twelve) Popsicle sticks are allowed in a joint.
 Glue can only be used on joints. If it is used anywhere else, the truss will be disqualified.
 The model truss bridge must not be coated with any material (i.e. paint, varnish, stain, or
glue).
 Overlapping (one stick over other) of sticks is not allowed. Any truss having this will be
disqualified.
 Only hot glue can be used as binding material. If anything else is used, the truss will be
disqualified.

GAME OF TRUSSES

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3. Testing

A 5 cm wide x 25cm long loading plate will be positioned over the deck. It will be placed
directly on the deck. The loading plate will have two pairs of holes through which strings
will go through the deck (deck must follow rules described in figure-6 and 7).
The middle point of the plate will be placed at the middle point of the bridge deck. The
loading plate will be attached to a hook where the loads will be placed.
Testing setup is illustrated in figure-10.

4. Marks Distribution

70 % of the total marks will be decided according to the efficiency test. Rest 30% of the
marks will be given by the judges according to the following criteria.

4.1. Judging Criteria (30 marks)

A panel of judges will evaluate the bridge model for the following criteria. They may ask
you for an oral presentation before them. In the oral presentation, describe your design
and explain the rationale behind the bridge design. Judges may also question about the
truss bridge you designed. The structural design, beauty, cleanliness and obedience of
rules and regulations will also be monitored by the judges.

4.2. Efficiency Test (70 marks)

 The weight of the truss and the number of members will be measured first.
 Only vertical loads will be applied on the truss.
 The initial load applied to the truss will be 19 kg. Then up to 40 kg, imposed load
will be increased by 3 kg and then it will be by 2 kg up to end.
 The load, at which the truss fails, will be recorded. Deformation of members will
not be considered as failure, but at least one of the joints has to be dislocated or
one of the members has to crack for the structural failure.
 The efficiency of the truss will be calculated by the following formula
Efficiency = Failure Load (kg) / Weight (g).
 Highest efficiency recorded on the competition will score 70 out of 70. Others will
be marked relative to it.
 If two trusses have the same efficiency, then the truss which takes the highest
load will be ranked higher.

The test will be monitored by the judges and decision of the Judges will be
considered as final.

Click here to Registration

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 Illustrations

Figure – 1: Straight Popsicle stick joint must not exceed 12mm.

Figure – 2: Inclined Popsicle stick joint must not exceed 18 mm.

400 mm - 450 mm

Figure – 3 (Side view): Length of the truss bridge must be within 400 mm to 450 mm

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Figure – 4 (Side view): These kind of Trusses are also allowed, but make sure that no Popsicle stick is
being broken or cut.

Figure – 5 (Side view): Deck trusses are allowed, make sure to have a minimum 370mm clear span to
fit the bridge in the testing module.

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Figure – 6 (Plan view): Marked positions on deck are to be kept open to let the testing probe pass.
Minimum 2 cm clear space is be required

Figure – 7 (Plan view): This type of construction on deck is not allowed as it blocks the required
opening for testing (figure-6).

Figure – 8 (Cross-sectional view): The

truss bridge must have at least 7 cm
clear inner span to accommodate testing
probe.

Outer Width

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Figure – 9 (side view): In the diagonal crossing glue is not allowed.

Figure – 10: Testing apparatus and their setup

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