We are the University of Wisconsin Steel Bridge Team, a student-run organization providing future engineers a chance to engage in a comprehensive, hands-on design and construction project. Students are challenged to conceptualize, design, fabricate, construct, and test a scale-model bridge to compete against other schools in the Spring. We provide a practical supplement to classroom learning, empowering the next generation of design professionals in the industry.
Through the American Institute of Steel Construction with the cooperation of the American Society of Civil Engineers, our team represents our school in an international competition against over a dozen schools in our regional competition alone. With a new rule set every year, the team works throughout the school year to create a strong, lightweight, and efficient bridge. The roughly 20-foot-long bridge is made up of prefabricated members, assembled at competition and put to the test under a load of 2500 lbs. Factoring deflection, weight, build time, and number of builders, the bridge is scored based on Construction Economy and Structural Efficiency. Every decision, from member sizing to connection detailing to construction sequencing, contributes to how the bridge performs on competition day.
Months of work has led to one of the team’s biggest accomplishments in recent history – the University of Wisconsin Steel Bridge Team is going to nationals for the first time in almost a decade! We are proud to showcase our hard work and dedication at competition, but our team ultimately relies on the generosity of our supporters to fund our ventures. Donations afford us things we need like steel and tools as we continue to grow, as well as transportation to competition. With your support, we can continue to foster lifelong friendships and professional skills.
THANK YOU!