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SSBC Rules and Clarifications

Student Steel Bridge Competition

2025 Official Student Steel Bridge Competition Rules

Download the Official Rules for the 2025 Student Steel Bridge Competition.

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Release date: September 3, 2024

2025 Official Student Steel Bridge Competition Clarifications

Clarifications are based on the Student Steel Bridge Competition 2025 Official Rules. All clarifications are reviewed and approved by the Rules Committee.

Submit your questions to the Rules Committee here.

Download the clarifications index for the 2024 Student Steel Bridge Competition.

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Click on each section below to read the posted clarifications.

You may now access all clarifications listed below in one, print-friendly document.

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SSBC Clarifications

1. Mission and Summary

There are no clarifications for Section 1 at this time.

2. Introduction

There are no clarifications for Section 2 at this time.

3. Problem Statement

There are no clarifications for Section 3 at this time.

4. Eligibility

There are no clarifications for Section 4 at this time.

5. Safety

There are no clarifications for Section 5 at this time.

6. Scoring

There are no clarifications for Section 6 at this time.

7. Schedule of Competition

There are no clarifications for Section 7 at this time.

8. Material and Component Specifications

Q8.1 Do specialty bolts and nuts that can be purchased fit the definition of "commercially available"? Justice Gorsline, Missouri University of Science and Technology

A. A bolt or nut that can be purchased off the shelf or ordered online from a company's typical inventory is considered "commercially available". If the bolt or nut needs to be designed and manufactured specifically for use in the steel bridge competition, then it is not considered "commercially available". Any bolt or nut must also meet the additional requirements for loose bolts (Sub-Section 8.2.3) and loose nuts (Sub-Section 8.2.4) and may not be mechanically modified in any way from the way that it is received, except it may be painted. [8.2, 8.2.3.1, 8.2.3.2, 8.2.4.1, 8.2.4.2] 

Last updated October 14, 2024

9. Structural Specifications

Q9.1 At what angle does a bend in a plate involved in a connection require the surfaces on either side of the bend to be treated as separate faying surfaces? Chris Teeter, Milwaukee School of Engineering

A. An intentional bend of any angle that is placed in a plate used in a connection requires the portions of the plate on either side of the bend to be treated as a separate faying surface. Note that a bolt penetrating the bend would not penetrate either of the faying surfaces since the hole for the bolt would not be completely within either of the faying surfaces. Examples of connections involving bent plates can be found in the 'Connection Safety Examples' document on the Team Resources page of the SSBC website. [9.5.2.1, 9.5.2.2]

 

Q9.2 Does the north side stringer extend past the east footing on the north side such that it has the same length as the south side stringer (i.e. is the north side stringer cantilevered)? Jakob Ramos, The College of New Jersey

A. No. All stringers terminate in their respective footings. The north side stringer has a minimum length of 15'-6" and a maximum length of 16'-6" while the south side stringer has a minimum length of 19'-0" and a maximum length of 20'-0". The plan view of the bridge envelope is shown in DWG 2. [9.3.5, 9.3.6]

 

Q9.3 Does the restriction on cam locks, dovetails, tube-in-tube/sleeved and other mechanical/interlocking connections apply to temporary connections created during timed construction? Antonio Juarez Rivera, Universidad Panamericana

A. The Connection Safety requirements specified in Sub-Section 9.5 are checked by the judges after the termination of timed construction. There is no restriction on how connections are made during timed construction if they are accomplished in a safe manner and do not require the occurrence of an accident. [9.4, 9.4.1, 9.5, 10.1, 10.3, 10.4]

 

Q9.4 Does a simple double shear connection between two members violate the requirement that each connection contain at least one and at most two faying surfaces associated with each member being connected? T.J. Boylan, Florida Institute of Technology

A. No. A simple double shear connection between two members creates two faying surfaces associated with each of the members being connected. Further examples of legal and illegal connections with multiple faying surfaces can be found in the 'Connection Safety Examples' document on the Team Resources page of the SSBC website. [9.5.1, 9.5.2]

Update September 20, 2024

10. Construction Regulations

Q10.1 Must tools that are assembled during timed construction be disassembled before timed construction is completed? Noah Sternick, Lafayette College

A. No. Tools only need to be on the ground in the staging yard or in a builder's possession at the end of timed construction. [10.2.3, 10.2.4, 10.9.1]

Updated September 20, 2024

11. Load Test Instructions

There are no clarifications for Section 11 at this time.

12. Equipment Provided by Host

There are no clarifications for Section 12 at this time.

13. Interpretation of Rules

There are no clarifications for Section 13 at this time.

14. Judging

There are no clarifications for Section 14 at this time.

15. Appeals

There are no clarifications for Section 15 at this time.

APPENDIX

  • Site Plan Diagram
  • Bridge Elevation Diagram
  • Lateral Load Test Plan Diagram
  • Vertical Load Test Plan and Elevation Diagram

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