West Point Bridge Builder

Most bridges start with a template,  a guide to build your bridge so that it works at maximum efficiency.

Before anything is final vertexes and segments are put into place, thickened, moved, adjusted, etc.

Sometimes bridges don't work...

West Point Bridge Builder is a software program developed by the West Point Military Academy that allows students to discover and apply several different laws of physics to the engineering of bridges.

"Back to the drawing board..." Actually more of a data board.

Each member of the bridge has its compression and tension measured in KiloNewtons, and its length in meters. When the bridge is tested, each member is tested and the results displaced above.  The engineer can than adjust the size and shape of the members so that they can resist the loads placed on them.

With some alterations the bridge still works at less than 100%...

After some initial design a test is run to monitor the compression and tension in each member of the bridge.Compression members are colored red. Tension members are colored blue. If the members are too weak the bridge will simple break.

After some creative alteration, the final bridge works and is both a work of art in the engineering and visual sense.

Home Page

3D Home Architect

Solid Works