ASCE Student Steel Bridge Team
| Steel Bridge Team |
| 2007-2008 Team Officers | Team Captain: Tim Strickland |
| Fabrication: John Lynch |
| Assembly: Kyle Villella |
| Team Advisor: Dr. Scott D. Schiff |
Objectives and Purpose
The Clemson University Student Steel Bridge Team challenges students to design, fabricate, and construct a model steel bridge. At regional and national competitions, teams are judged on construction speed, weight, and deflection for a prescribed loading scenario. The quality of fabrication and the aesthetics of the bridge are also considered in the final score.
Students design the bridge for various loading cases using structural analysis software; constructability and fabrication must also be considered during the design.
Each year, the bridge is fabricated by students at the Clemson Civil Engineering research facilities. Students cut, grind, and weld steel sections to create bridge members. University staff members coordinate with the team to help with equipment training and help fabricate some of the more complex parts.
| SPONSORS |
| Project Manager | South Carolina Steel Corporation |
| Project Engineer | Fluor | B. P. Barber & Associates, Inc. | ASCE South Carolina Section |
| Field Engineer | The LPA Group | Triplett-King & Associates, Inc. |
| Junior Engineer | The Design Collaborative | Red Bull |
The assembly team is then responsible for the timed construction of the bridge. The team is made up of three to eight students who practice the staging and building of the bridge in preparation for the regional and national competitions.
The Steel Bridge Team encourages undergraduate and graduate students to further expand upon structural design, construction management, and communication skills learned in the classroom. Steel Bridge challenges students and provides practical Civil Engineering experience that can be used in the real world.
Accomplishments
- Ten Consecutive appearances at the National Student Steel Bridge Competition
- 2007 2nd Place Overall, Carolinas Conference - Top 10 Finish, National Student Steel Bridge Competition
- 2006 2nd Place Overall, Carolinas Conference - Top 10 Finish, National Student Steel Bridge Competition
- 2005 1st Place Overall, Carolinas Conference
- 2004 National Innovation Award
- 2003 1st Place Overall, Carolinas Conference - Top Ten Finish, National Student Steel Bridge Competition
- 2002 1st Place Overall, Carolinas Conference - Top Twenty Finish, National Student Steel Bridge Competition
- 2001 1st Place Overall, Carolinas Conference - National Student Steel Bridge Champions