SPAGHETTI BRIDGE COMPETITION

2018

Organized by the Civil Engineering Society, University

of Peradeniya
TEAM SELECTION
 Three teams (maximum) from each university will be allowed to take part in the
competition.
 Those three teams should be selected via a competition held within their respective
universities.

OBJECTIVE

To build the strongest spaghetti bridge from optimum quantity of spaghetti and hot melt glue.
(Initial load will be 10kg + weight of the loading arrangements)

MATERIALS
CES will provide a Spaghetti packet of 500g to each group (an additional 100g of spaghetti
will be provided on request), two hot melt glue guns and 100g of glue sticks free of charge.
(Personal glue guns can be used, if needed)

NOTE:
• The bridge shall be fabricated only using the spaghetti provided by the CES.
• Bonding shall be done using only the hot melt glue sticks provided by the CES.

DIMENSIONS

• The maximum depth of the bridge from the highest point to the lowest point shall not exceed
350 mm.
• The lowest point of the bridge shall not be more than 100 mm below a horizontal line
running between the two end support surfaces.

600 mm
Figure 01: Bridge Dimensions
• The minimum span of the bridge should be 600 mm and the width should be less than 125
mm.

• Glue can be applied on the members as rings and on the joints and connections as shown in
figure 2. Glue cannot be applied along the members to transfer the loads.

Figure 02: Allowable method of application of glue

• The minimum distance between two adjacent glue rings should be 25 mm.
NOTE: After collapsing of the bridge if judges identify that you apply glue along the
members those teams will be disqualified.

• The maximum allowable mass of the bridge, excluding the loading platform is 600g.
Competitors are strictly informed that the bridges weighing beyond the limit are deemed
disqualified.
NOTE: The shape of the bridge could be pre-modelled using rigifoam and will be
allowed to use during the competition in order to save time.

ROAD DECK

• A block of wood (50 mm x 50 mm x 50 mm), representing a car, must be able to pass

unobstructed from one end to the other across the bridge along the top surface of the road deck
as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 03: End elevation of the bridge

BRIDGE LOADING AND SUPPORT

• The bridge would be subjected to two point loading (which are 200 mm apart) as shown in
Figure 05.
• The bridge will be loaded progressively until failure, with the weight applied to the loading
arrangement.
• The support for the bridge shall be from the top of the level surfaces of the end supports only.
The vertical edge of the supports shall not be used as a support in any way (refer to Figure
04).

Figure 04: Use of End Support

• Two metal hooks attached to 25 mm X 25 mm X 125 mm wooden blocks can be obtained

from the CES. This loading platform may not be altered in any way.
• The loading platform must be attached at the center of the bridge with a distance of 200 mm
as shown in Figure 05.
NOTE: To facilitate connection of the loading hook to the loading platform, the area
immediately below the loading hook must be unobstructed.

Figure 05: Loading Arrangement

THE COMPETITION AND SCORING

 During the competition, bridges will be loaded until failure. (Loading should be carried
out at a constant rate by all the participants)
 Bridges will be graded by the ratio of maximum load to the weight of the bridge.
AWARDS

 Special awards and certificates will be given for the groups presenting the top 3
designs from the civil engineering students.
 All other teams will be given awards and certificates appreciating their participation in
the competition.

JUDGING

Bridges will be weighed in front of the judges and inspected by the judges prior to testing to
ensure all bridges comply with the rules. Bridges failing to satisfy the rules will be disqualified.

 ON ALL MATTERS, THE JUDGES' DECISION SHALL BE THE FINAL

DECISION. The judges have the right to disqualify any bridge that in their
opinion is in violation of the intent or letter of the rules. The judges have the right
to accept any bridge that in their opinion is consistent with the rules.