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Science Olympiad Bridge Building 2008-09
Useful ideas from last year (2007):   Boomilever    Tower
Bridge & Tower CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES
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THIS PAGE IS "UNDER CONSTRUCTION".  Hah-hah! Get it?
     The Elevated Bridge Event for this year's 2008-09 Science Olympiad
requires a span of specified minimum length, with a support footprint of a specified maximum. As in the past, the best scores will go to designs that are most efficient: support the maximum specified weight with the lightest structure, We have not yet prepared an analysis of this structure and suggestions for design, but our discussion of last year's Boomilever Event may provide a helpful introduction to the basic forces involved and how to design for them. Definitely recommended reading.
    As always, your starting point for this event should be a careful reading of the official Science Olympiad Rules for this event!
     On this page we show some of the concepts from the  2006 rules as a guideline to help you get started.     
     We offer a variety of balsa for building these structures. Nothing we present here should be construed as part of the official rules; they are just guidelines for early experimentation, which we strongly suggest you start doing as soon as possible. Rule books for the current season are available and may be purchased at the official Science Olympiad Store.
     The supplies needed for competitive BRIDGE BUILDING building events are few and straightforward. Balsa, with its high strength to weight ratio, is the wood of choice. All substructures must be made up of strips no larger than .25" x .25" (cross-section), which makes wood purchase simple.  Any width or thickness of substructures laminated from this basic component is permitted, but note that glue is much heavier than wood. Wood may be sanded to reduce thickness where needed for optimal strength/weight distribution.  Bridge & Tower Construction Supplies

Information on the 2006 Bridge event
(Note:  2006 rules did not require construction of a realistic or representational bridge.  There was no "roadway" in the usual sense. All that was required was that the test load be supported at the specified points at the specified distance above the test supports which are separated by 35 cm.)

Specifications for 2006 Bridge Event (See diagrams below)

*Bridge may be constructed of wood and glue only. No other materials may be used. No piece is more than ¼” x ¼” (6 mm x 6 mm) in cross section. Dowels must be ¼” (6 mm) or less in diameter. Pieces may be of any length, and may be glued together to provide thicker or wider elements.

*Commercially laminated wood, particleboard, or similar materials are prohibited.

*Test supports are 35.0 cm apart, and Bridge must span this distance in stable fashion.

*The bridge must be a minimum of 5.0 cm wide for its entire span.

*No part of the Bridge may extend below the top surface of the test supports prior to loading.

*The three loading points must be clearly and permanently labeled “A”, “B”, and “C” respectively, and will be on 8.0 cm centers. The outer 2 load points will be centered 9.5 cm from the inner edges of the supports. 

*The Loading Block is oriented so that the 5.0 cm dimension is horizontal and at right angles to the bridge span.

*An opening with enough for the eyebolt clearance must be provided for the eyebolt at each of the Load Points.

*The bottom of the Loading Block (bridge roadway) must be at least 7.0 cm but not more than 9.0 cm above the Test Supports prior to testing.

*Some form of Team Identification must be permanently marked on bridge.

Bridge & Tower Construction Supplies
 

Bridge & Tower Construction Supplies

Just for fun -  Whitewings Paper/balsa precision gliders & Wind-up airplanes. 
Balsa Glider & MotorPlane Sampler
      Ready-to-Fly Balsa Motorplanes       
  Build-&-Fly Balsa Kits
 
 
All transactions are prepaid - we do not bill. If you need documentation for your accounting department, please fax us your purchase order. We will fax to you or your bookkeeper a proforma invoice. This may be returned with credit card info or check. You may expedite order by including on the Purchase Order a Visa/MC number, exp. date, name as it appears on card, signature. 
Please include the following on purchase orders:
Requesting teacher's name and, if possible, email and direct phone
Purchasing/accounting contact name, phone, fax
All transactions are prepaid - we do not bill.


Mail:
TURNERTOYS
1958 ELMORE RD
MORRISVILLE, VT 05661

or Fax: 
802-888-3155

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