The West Point Bridge Design Contest as a Classroom Tool

by Reed Brockman, P.E.Senior Structural Engineer

DMJM Harris

Steps 1 and 2 do not get directly addressed by the West Point Designer – someone determined that there will be a truss bridge on this spot!

A good engineer would question the assignment. Why this type of bridge? Why a bridge? Why do anything?

•Every option in this program has a significance in terms of strength and price.

•Site / Substructure Development

•Roadway elevation

•Types of Supports (2 types)

•Pier

•Superstructure

•Materials (3 kinds)

•Steel shapes (2 types)

•Steel sizes (many)

•There are literally millions of combinations of the different choices in the program.

•How can you reduce the choices?

•Any mathematical relationships between choices and cost?

•Any physics principles that can help reduce the choices?

•Is there necessarily a BEST solution?

•Does anyone really expect to get that best solution on the first try?

Materials Report

Cost Report