UC Davis Civil Engineering Students Win National Competition
An undergraduate student design team from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis claimed the top spot in the 2014 ASCE Steel Bridge National Competition, held May 23-24 at the University of Akron. The UC Davis team, named “Chrome Ollie,” finished first in the overall rankings, ahead of teams from MIT (2nd), UC Berkeley (3rd) and the University of Florida (4th). The competition featured 49 teams from institutions across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
It was Team Chrome Ollie’s second top overall victory in the past 10 years; the UC Davis group also won in 2005. Among the components of its overall victory, Team Chrome Ollie finished 7th for Construction Speed; 1st for Lightness; 14th for Display; 6th for Stiffness; 9th for Economy; and 1st for Efficiency. Complete results of the competition are available at: http://www.nssbc.info/History/2014NSSBC_NationalResults.pdf
UC Davis’ Team Chrome Ollie is a student-run organization that provides undergraduates with the opportunity to design, fabricate and construct a roughly 20-foot span steel bridge. Duties and activities include optimization and iterative design, MIG and TIG welding, the fabrication of parts in the student Engineering Fabrication Laboratory, and the performance of timed construction runs, along with team social events, leadership and organizational opportunities. All students are welcome to join; for additional information, visit https://orgsync.com/52848/chapter. The UC Davis “Chrome Ollie” team qualified for the national competition by finishing second at the ASCE Mid-Pacific Student Conference, held April 3-5 at California State University, Fresno.
About Student Steel Bridge Competition
The mission of the ASCE/AISC Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC) is to supplement the education of civil engineering students with a comprehensive, student-driven project experience from conception and design through fabrication, erection, and testing, culminating in a steel structure that meets client specifications and optimizes performance and economy. The SSBC increases awareness of real-world engineering issues such as spatial constraints, material properties, strength, serviceability, fabrication and erection processes, safety, esthetics, and cost. Success in inter-collegiate competition requires effective teamwork and project management. Future engineers are stimulated to innovate, practice professionalism, and use structural steel efficiently. The Student Steel Bridge Competition is sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and co-sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute, the James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation, the National Steel Bridge Alliance, Nucor Corporation, Nelson Stud Welding, the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC), the Structural Steel Education Foundation (SSEF), Bentley, and DSS Solidworks.
About UC Davis Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering integrates research, education, and professional service in areas related to civil infrastructure and the environment. We provide the profession and academia with outstanding graduates who advance both engineering practice and fundamental knowledge. U.S. News & World Report “Best Graduate Schools” recently ranked UC Davis 10th in the U.S. for civil engineering.
