Bridge-builders of future figure it out

A total of 20 teams, from across the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, came together at Baywest Mall in Port Elizabeth on Saturday to participate, but it was Oakhill School from Knysna, who managed to clinch first and second place.

Port Elizabeth's Newton Technical High School completed the podium places by taking third spot.

SAICE acting chairman for the Algoa branch, Pieter Joubert, said the competition had experienced a great turnout and competition was tough among a wide variety of schools.

"This past weekend was one of the best turnouts we've had in a long time. It was really great to see the amount in interest and passion the pupils showed for engineering at this level," Joubert said.

During the competition, teams of three pupils were given pine sticks cut into 6mm x 6mm, and 600mm long, and quick-drying glue, and had three hours to build a bridge, that spanned 600mm and could carry as much weight as possible.

"This year our judges included structural engineers as well as architects. "Bridges had to carry large weight, while also displaying aesthetically-pleasing design elements, and we were very impressed with the outcome," he said.

Joubert said the aim behind the competition was to create and advance an interest in civil engineering among school pupils.

Defending champions, Daniel Pienaar Technical High School, from Uitenhage, had to step aside this year as Oakhill won the competition with a bridge that carried 110kg.

"The bridge built by Caitlin Smith, Julia Lamprecht and Courtney Wilkinson carried a whopping 110kg, about 770 times its own weight, before breaking. Not bad for a few wooden sticks!" Oakhill science department head, Ilse Schoeman said.

In second place Johan Hay, Bradley Carroll and Gerard Beukes, built a bridge that was able to carry 65kg.

The top teams received cash prizes and the winners go through to the national competition to be held in Gauteng.

Source: Herald via I-Net Bridge