Island 1 Bridge Designer
Mechanics & Structures
POP students are challenged to use Bridge Designer to engineer a cost-effective truss bridge that will support a two-lane highway across the river valley.
Bridge Designer
How hard is it to design a bridge under budget?
What Is a Bridge?
A bridge is a structure that spans a landform in order to provide passage over an obstacle.
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They can cross a variety of landforms, such as valleys or crevasses, streets, and bodies of water (rivers or lakes).
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They can be built to accommodate many loads, including cars, pedestrians, trains, bikes, and animals.
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There are many different types of bridges. The chosen design depends on several factors:
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The length needed
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Whether it crosses over water, a valley, a street, or some other obstacle
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Available materials
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General location
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Potential maintenance
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Types of Bridges:
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Beam bridges are used for a span of less than 250 feet. They are made of a deck supported by piers.
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Truss bridges are made up of a framework of beams in the form of a triangle that work to form a rigid structure.
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Suspension bridges have a bridge deck held up by cables.
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Arch bridges offer natural strength and are some of the oldest functioning bridges in the world.
About Bridge Designer:
Bridge Designer is a challenging, computer simulation program. It allows POP students to design and test hundreds of different types of bridges.