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Bridge Design Project by Materials Engineering (MTLE-4910)

 

The term project for the four teams of MS&E seniors in Design in Materials Engineering (MTLE – 4910), was to design, analyze, construct, test and post- test a model bridge with limited resources, including:

  • 4” x 36” Sheets of balsa wood 1/16" and 1/8”
  • Variety of square and rectangular 36” long strips of balsa wood
  • 1/8” x 1/8” 36” long strips of walnut
  • 12’ x 36” piece of 3/16” thick paper-covered polystyrene foam-cored foam board
  • 100’ of 0.025” diameter steel wire
  • 100’ of 3 -stand twisted cotton thread
  • 165 sewing straight pins
  • Gorilla GlueTM

Besides limiting the materials for use in bridge construction, there was a constrain that only one piece of full-width balsa wood or comparable width foam board could be used for a deck or roadway, and no other piece used anywhere in the bridge could exceed 1cm in width. Additional specifications for the model bridge were that it had to be free-standing ( i.e., not anchored), have a free (unsupported) span 25cm long, and not exceed 250 grams in weight. It also had to allow a Matchbox car to be pushed freely across its span.

The four different bridge designs were created:

Bridge 1- Standard tied-arch design
Before After
Standard tied-arch design before Standard tied-arch design after
Bridge 2- Novel tied bow design
Before After
Novel tied bow design before Novel tied bow design after
Bridge 3-Modified cable-stayed design with end towers
Before After
Modified cable-stayed design with end towers before Modified cable-stayed design with end towers after
Bridge 4- A-frame with sandwich panel deck and beams
Before After
A- frame with sandwich panel deck and beams before A- frame with sandwich panel deck and beams after

 

To Find Out More Go To: http://www.eng.rpi.edu.eng

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ABET Objectives

While certain objectives of an undergraduate education in engineering are common to all programs, there are subtle but important differences that require some subset of objectives specific to ensuring that all graduates have specialized technical knowledge in their chosen field. In this regard, the graduates of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering's baccalaureate program will be prepared for entry-level positions as Materials Engineers or for Graduate School.

[ ABET Objectives ]

To read more about the ABET Objectives go to: http://finaladdress here

 

Did you know?

Rensselaer's Department of Materials Science and Engineering...

  • one of the oldest materials departments in the country,
  • has consistently ranked among the top 15 Departments in the United States,
  • committed to the educational process, to individual mentoring, and to academic excellence,
  • offers many Undergraduate & Graduate courses in an interactive, hands-on format, and
  • provides opportunities for undergraduate research.

Materials Science and Engineering offers students a variety of hands-on design opportunities—even bridge design! See a sample project from Design in Materials Engineering (MTLE – 4910)