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February 2, 2007

B. A. Wake

Computer Studies

West Point Bridge Design

 

 

 

          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.