WEST POINT BRIDGE: 

How do we design the best bridge? Let's go on an Information Hunt, looking for clues.

Find the words and definitions in West Point Bridge Design HELP and fill in the blanks below.

1.      Click on HELP. Then select Help Topics.

2.      You can type the word you’re looking for, or scroll down.  Once you see the word, double click on the word you want to look up.

A.     Materials:

1.      Look up materials.  List the 3 different types of materials

2.      Scroll down to Notes and Tips. Read the section.

         List strength and expense for each type of material.

3.     

	Type of material	Strength (weak to strong)	Cost (least to most)
1.	Carbon Steel	1	1
2.	High Strength Low Alloy Steel	2	2
3.	Quenched and Tempered Low-Alloy Steel	3	3

B.     Cross-Sections

1. Go back to Index. Look up cross-section.  Choose Cross-Section from menu.  List the 2 different types of cross sections.
2. Go back to Index. Look up cross-section.  Choose the line that names the 2 cross section types. from the menu.
3. Look for the boxes that describe when it is most economical to use each type of cross section.

Type of cross section	Better to use for: (tension or compression)	Shown as what color (blue or red)
Hollow	Compression	red
Solid	Tension	blue

C.     Engineering Design Process: What are the steps?

1. Go back to Index. Look up engineering design process.  Choose The Engineering Design Process from the menu.
2. List the 7 steps.

1. Identify the problem
2. Define the problem
3. Develop alternative solutions
4. Analyze and compare alternative solutions
5. Select the best alternative
6. Implement the solution
7. Evaluate the results

How do we optimize our bridge design?

Let's go on an Information Hunt, looking for clues.

A.                  Find the How to Design a Bridge page from the help index.  What is the objective?

to create an optimal bridge design

B.                  Go to each step of the Design Process flowchart.  Read about the step, especially the Notes & Tips section.  Enter one important fact from each step.

¨     Select a Site Configuration

Bridges on a river will cost considerably more than a bridge built over ground

¨     Decide on a Truss Configuration
The configuration must be stable

¨     Draw Joints

Joints can only be placed on snap points.

¨     Draw Members

Must be on drawing board mode.

¨     Load Test Your Design

Check your model for stability

¨     Strengthen All Unsafe Members

Use different materials that may be stronger

¨     Optimize the Member Properties

Minimize the material cost.

¨     Optimize the Shape of the Truss

Triangles are a strong shape

¨     Find the Optimum Truss Configuration

Try reducing the number of joints

¨     Find the Optimum Site Configuration

Find by trial and error

¨     Choose the Optimum Design

choose based on aesthetics, ease of construction, ease of maintenance, local availability of materials, and environmental impact

¨     Record Your Design
SAVE

Video for Project 1.2.1

Woops... forgot to upload this.

http://www.filedropper.com/mov016

THIS IS MY CAREER Project 1.2.1

1. What is your age?
25



2. Where do you live?
Indiana



3. What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy creating models in Blender and developing web pages. I occasianally program games and other things.



4. What is your job title?
Architect I




5. When and why did you choose your career path?
I enjoyed drawing and planning things. Architecture seemed like an exciting career while I was in high school, so I took many architecture classes and obtained a masters degree in architecture.



6. What is the name of your company or employer?
Leo A Daly.



7. Describe your primary duties and skills. [Cite your source(s)]
I design the technical and aesthetical aspects of buildings. My skills include-

-being able to communicate effectively
-being creative
-being anylitical
-having knowledge in the business
-being a team player
-having good math skillz


(http://haddock.titu.jyu.fi/larkkidata/skills.html)



8. Describe your physical work environment.
I work in an office. I decorate it with pretty things :3



9. What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of being architect is brainstorming ideas for the designs of the buildings I work on.



10. What is your salary? [Cite your source(s)]
Around $42,108


(http://www1.salary.com/Architect-Salary.html)



11. Which accredited school did you first attend, and what was your degree? [Cite your source(s)]
I first attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and obtained an assiociates degree in Architecture.
http://architecture.about.com/od/schools/a/Architecture-School-Rankings.htm



12. Describe in detail three of the courses that you took which are closely related to your current career. [Cite your source(s)]
I took technical drawing, model making, and computer rendering.


Technical drawing dealt with how to sketch out accurate representations of existing buildings and creating drawings of an architect's design.


Model making taught how to create miniature representations of structures. This skill is important for 
explaining an architects ideas to others. 


Computer rendering is used to create accurate representations of structures on a computer using computer rendering software such as blender.

http://www.ehow.com/list_6605135_courses-related-architecture.html

13. Describe the two courses that you considered most challenging. [Cite your source(s) and include a course listing from the appropriate degree program]
Calculus and architecture design.





14. What resources did your school have available to help you get through the most difficult courses? [Cite your source(s)]
Computers and teh internetzzz.




15. Regarding the two most challenging courses, how did you persevere?
Vary carefully.



16. From what school(s) did you receive graduate degrees? [Cite your source(s)]
Cornell University

http://architecture.about.com/od/schools/a/Architecture-School-Rankings.htm


17. What was the title or titles of the degree(s)? [Cite your source(s)]
M.Arch. Mast of architecture degree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Architecture



18. What licenses do you have and what were the exams required to receive those licenses? [Cite your source(s)]
You need a architecture liscense. To obtain one, you must take an Architect Registration Exam.




19. How would your clients and co-workers describe you?
Hard working, focused, and determined.



20. What do you hope to accomplish at the conclusion of your career?
I hope to... become a fairly known architect.



21. Why should a high school student consider a career in your field? What important contribution(s) can they make?
A student might want to consider a career in my field because it is very interesting planning and building structures for the public. Architects create important buildings that will be used for many years if built correctly.





Conclusion
1. You described a career related to civil engineering and/or architecture. Is this the career field that you are currently most interested in at this stage in your life?
No. I'd rather go into something related to digital art or programming.







2. Rank and describe the three most important characteristics that you value in choosing a post-secondary school.
1. Ambition
2.Hard working
3.Determination







3. Rank the following in the order of importance to you regarding a career: job satisfaction; salary; making a difference; level of responsibility; titles; benefits; hours; co-workers; supervisors. How will a career in civil engineering or architecture satisfy the factor that you ranked highest?
1. Job satisfaction
2. Making a difference
3. Salary
4. Level of responsibility 
5. Hours
6. Benefits
7. Titles
8. Supervisors
9. Co-workers


Well, if you like designing and building things, being an architect could be a very satisfying job.