Model Bridge Design

Here I have complied what I believe to be the best list of websites that you will find useful. All of them have relevant model structure, bridge and tower information, some sell balsa and basswood, and others contain useful tips. Some of these sites have a specific competition or goal in mind, but you can always take the principles and adapt them to your needs.

Bridge and Tower Design:

Bridge Links
Quite a few links to bridge building pages.

Bridge Building
A gold mine of links and resources to model bridge building related websites.

Bridge Designer
This website is a free program that allows you to design a virtual truss, add a load,and see where the forces end up. This may be a a bit difficult to understand, but very useful.

Bridge Design Tips
Some very good information and helpful tips on building and designing bridges.

ABCD’s Bridge Design Tips for Kids
Pictures of balsa and spaghetti bridges, and a few tips.

Balsa Wood Structure Design
An in-depth study on model bridge design.

Bridge Building
This page displays model bridges built by the Applied Physics class at Gate City High School. Each group of students used their own design to construct their model using balsa wood and carpenter’s glue. The models were evaluated on the ratio of mass supported by the bridge to the mass of the bridge.

Popsicle Bridges

Building a Popsicle-Stick Bridge
How to build a popsicle bridge. Includes photos of several designs.

Popsicle Bridge Building Contest
Page about a popsicle bridge contest, with pictures and links.

Companies that Sell Balsa and Basswood:

Specialized Balsa
A recognized leader in the industry. Specializes in Balsa wood, but also sells Bass and Birch, and many other wood accessories. Recommended.

National Balsa
This is a online company that sells balsa and bass wood for your models.

Balsa Supply
Sells several different types of wood. Minimum order of $50.00.

Balsa Cabin
UK company, sells Balsa and Spruce.

USA Hobby
Offers both Balsa and Basswood in strips and sheets.

Bridge Building Competitions

BalsaBridge.com
Website about an annual bridge competition. Contains many photos of bridges from past competitions. Also has many links to bridge sites.

West Point Bridge Design Contest
Winners receive a scholarship and a laptop. The software is free and can be downloaded anytime.

International Bridge Building Contest
This competition is probably the biggest in the nation. Given rules and materials, you must design and build the most efficient bridge. Contains pictures of past bridges, as well as their efficiency scores.

Bridge Games:

Bridge Builder Games
In the mood for some fun? Check out this site.

Build n Bust it
Virtually build and bust a bridge.

Infinity Quiz
A monthly quiz based on some projects of a specialized bridge engineering company based in North Vancouver, Canada. The idea is to share some practical principles with anyone who is interested in the art of bridge/structural engineering. Check out your knowledge by taking this quiz.

Information about Balsa Wood:

WoodBin: Balsa
A little information about Balsa wood. The rest of the site has a lot of information about wood and woodworking in general. Has a large links page.

Balsa Wood Bridge Info
Article explaining how to build a balsa bridge. Also has a chart comparing the strength of Balsa to other woods.

Interesting Facts About Balsa Wood
In-depth study on the properties of Balsa wood. Shows the three grain types, and explains their uses.

Kits and Software:

Pre-Engineering.com
Home of ModelSmart, and model bridge design program. Contains several pages of good information, including a model bridge project.

Balsa Wood Bridges
A CD jammed packed with pictures that will help you design and build your bridge.

Software Inventions
Model Bridge is educational software that helps junior high, high school, and college students understand the behavior of pin-truss bridges

Trusses and Truss Design:

Bridge Basics
How to identify different trusses.

Truss Bridge Library
Explains how a truss works. Includes pictures of a Warren, Howe, and Pratt truss.

Bridge Truss Designs
A user-friendly guide to trusses. Simple and sweet.

General Links:

Engineering Education Service Center
The Engineering Education Service Center provides service and resources for mentors and pre-engineering students.

Bridge Project Page
Pictures of bridges built for the Olentangy Shanahan Middle School bridge project.

SC Solutions
Collection of links to various bridge related websites.

BridgeSite.com
Has links to many aspects of real and model bridges. Includes a message board.

Hub Hobby Shop
Resource of links about all aspects of modeling. Includes a online store.

BridgePros
Links to bridge related sites. Includes a learning center.

How Stuff Works

Balsa Structure Tips
Some helpful information about model building here.

East Prairie School’s Applied Technology Page

Other Links

The Orchid Grower
A Juvenile Forensic Science Adventure Novel

WoodBin
Featuring woodworking software, online utilities, furniture plans, supplies, and woodworking reference information.

• Model Bridge Truss Design Software
• Toothpick Bridges
• GarrettsBridges.com Featured in Blog
• Choosing the Right Glue
• Bridge Building Quiz

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