Bridge Engineering

This video is an informative and exciting look at the basics of engineering. One of the best ways to learn how something works is to examine it when it didn't work and discuss why it failed. This idea is demonstrated by a secondary school class that builds models of bridges from balsa wood. The forces that work against real structures, such as live loads, people and cars, dead loads, the weight of the structure itself, and stress from weather, are simulated in the classroom. They learn many different stresses that structures endure and how to control those stresses with structural design. An examination of various bridge structures, like a beam bridge, an arch bridge, and a tension bridge, illustrates which designs are most appropriate for specific stresses. The best model bridges are determined when they are tested for their strength against the forces. A must for those interested in design and engineering. One 19-minute video. A Shopware Production.

The cantilever is one of the most basic structural forms. This video explains the cantilever principle as it's applied in northeastern England and then marvels at the great Victorian achievement of the Forth Rail Bridge before seeing how the cantilever has been developed into new and exciting forms in Seville, Spain. (24 minutes)

Follow engineering students as they compete in the annual College Engineering Model Bridge Building Contest. University-level teams work to build 20-foot-long bridges that can withstand the testing procedures of competition. They discuss the design challenges faced by team members and the successes and failures they experienced. Categories and rules of competition are also outlined for those interested in participating in advanced-level model bridge building competition. One 23-minute video. A Shopware Production.

From the earliest rope bridges in mountain gorges to the superlong sea crossings of today, the suspension bridge has been a consistently successful form. This video visits bridges in Britain, Denmark, and the Czech Republic to see how they work. (24 minutes)