February 2, 2007
B. A. Wake
Computer Studies
West
Point Bridge Design
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West Point Bridge Designer 2007 requires students to make
simple solid structures in order to create competitive bridge designs. My
design strategy was to use a standard Pratt template and try to improve on
the design. I started construction with a $50,000 excavation cost and $25,000
for arch abutments. I used high-strength concrete for my deck which cost an
additional $38,500. I spent forty-eight hundred dollars on joints for the
connection cost. The material cost was $49,457 for just under 5,000 kg of
carbon steel tubes which were different sizes but were placed symmetrically
in order to keep equal tension and compression forces on my bridge. It took a
fair amount of perseverance with a lot of trial and error to get my bridge to
finally pass the simulated load test.
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