The base layer of the team’s bridge. Photo submitted.

A team of students from Missouri University of Science and Technology will test the principles of bridge building by constructing a scale-model steel bridge as part of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Mid-Continent Student Conference. The conference will be held Thursday, April 24, through Saturday, April 26, at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla.

Missouri S&T’s Steel Bridge Design Team will compete with other regional collegiate teams to construct its bridge as fast as possible. The bridges will then be “load tested” to see if they can hold a required amount of weight. This year, the S&T team’s bridge weighs 320 pounds and is comprised of 22 pieces and more than 70 bolts. It is 17 feet long and is a 1:10 scale model bridge.

The team will be judged on the weight and rigidity of its bridge, construction speed and the number of team members building the bridge. Aesthetics are scored if needed as a tie-breaker. Penalties are assessed for infractions like dropping bolts, holding two pieces of the bridge at once and stepping over designated lines.

Throughout the spring semester, team members worked long hours in the Student Design and Experiential Learning Center on the Missouri S&T campus, improving the design and fabrication. The team had the bridge beams carved in the Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center at S&T, via water-jet cutting.

Team members hope to have only three students construct the bridge at the competition, but a fourth could be added if difficulties arise during practice builds. Prior to the competition, team members practice several hours a day to reduce the time it takes to construct the bridge.

Dr. Timothy Philpot, associate professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering at Missouri S&T, is the Steel Bridge Team faculty advisor, and Jermy Jamison, a senior in mechanical engineering from Grain Valley, Mo., is the 2014 team leader.

The following students are part of the 2014 Steel Bridge Team:

Takota Anderson, a senior in mechanical engineering from Stark City, Mo.

Natalie Bouxsein, a senior in civil engineering from Sugar Hill, Ga.

Joel Cates, a junior in mechanical engineering from Pawnee, Ill.

Miranda Cory, a freshman in civil engineering from Atchison, Kan.

Matthew Duncan, a freshman in mechanical engineering from Moberly, Mo.

Shelby Gross, a junior in mechanical engineering from St. Charles, Mo.

Kayla Hindle, a junior in engineering from Wildwood, Mo.

Tyler Ishmael, a junior in mechanical engineering from Grain Valley, Mo.

Jermy Jamison, a senior in mechanical engineering from Grain Valley, Mo.

Sarah Jemison, a sophomore in architectural engineering from Nixa, Mo.

Nick Kaesik, a senior in architectural engineering from Freeburg, Mo.

Matthew Klegseth, a junior in civil engineering from Kansas City, Mo.

Sara Koestner, a junior in architectural engineering from Russellville, Mo.

Lynsey Lahey, a senior in civil engineering from Kirkwood, Mo.

Alex Marey, a freshman in computer science from Wildwood, Mo.

David Muller, a senior in architectural engineering from Ballwin, Mo.

Nathaniel Oberley, a sophomore in civil engineering from Virginia Beach, Va.

Holly Olson, a senior in mechanical engineering from Nanjemoy, Md.

Sarah Padgett, a senior in civil engineering from Topeka, Kan.

Kyle Roberts, a senior in electrical engineering from Granite City, Ill.

Alec Schlotzhauer, a sophomore in architectural engineering from Manhattan, Kan.

Austin Shull, a senior in architectural engineering from La Monte, Mo.

Samantha Smith, a senior in civil engineering from Washington, Ill.

Darrell Wallace, a senior in civil engineering from Lee’s Summit, Mo.