2003 Engineering Design Compeitions - Truss Design Competition

2003 Truss Design Competition
Sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers

Below are the guidelines for the ASCE sponsored Truss Design Competition. All
requirements must be met in order to be eligible for judging. Only the first 100 trusses
received will be tested.

To order a kit, please print off the Truss Kit Order Form, and mail it with payment to the address on the form. Kits must be ordered by February 14, 2003.

Please print the Truss Design Competition Registration Form, fill it out, and bring it with you the day of the competition.

Guidelines

1. The structure must be two-dimensional. The maximum width is ¾ inch.

2. The maximum height: 12 inches
minimum height: 6 inches
length: 18 inches

3. The bottom member can be no larger than ¾" x ¾".

4. Distance between the bearing pads must be 18 inches. The pads must be placed at
ends of the structure.

5. Load pads must be placed on the bottom horizontal frame member, three inches
from the center line.

6. Bearing and load pads shall be 2" x 2" x ¼" plywood (supplies). They are not to be
part of the structural design or altered in any way and should be added only after
the truss is completed.

7. The kit, except for the bearing pads, may be cut and shaped any way you wish. Any
type of glue may be used to connect the joints. Use only the materials supplied
with the kit. Frames using other materials will be disqualified.

Kit material: four ¾" x ¾" x 24" planks
four 2" x 2" x ¼" plywood pads

8. There are three classes for judging:
A. Elementary and junior high class (up to and including the 8th grade)
B. High school class (9th through 12th grades)
C. Open class (students enrolled in higher education or teachers)

9. Winners will be determined by a maximum load/weight ratio. All frames become the
property of the PSU Department of Civil Engineering upon entry. Decisions by the
judges are final.

10. Kits may be obtained from the dean's office of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The cost per kit is $6.00, checks should be made payable to "PSU ASCE". To obtain a kit contact Cathleen Davidson at 503-725-4288. Kits will be available 11/18/2003.

11. NOTE: All parts of the structure lower that the minimum height must have structural
significance. Flags, poles, etc., may not be used to meet the minimum height
requirement if the bridge is lower than 6".