The Big Bridge Build, Qub Civil Engineering

We are attempting to build a life-size bridge out of Meccano - see our journey. . .

Key Facts:

• Overall length of bridge - 32. 2m (106 ft)
• Longest span of bridge - 25m (82 ft)
• Height of bridge - 8m (26 ft)
• Weight of bridge - 600kg
• Design capacity - 100kg
• Number of pieces of Meccano - 11, 000 (excluding nuts and bolts)
• Total length of Meccano 3835m

We are aiming to secure a Guinness World Record for largest Meccano Structure.

Rationale:
- Inspire existing QUB students
- Encourage school children to consider a career in engineering, particularly important as there is a skills shortage

- Encourage children from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage in education and training as means to improve their future prospects.


Assembling so many pieces is a complex process and the real challenge is in the construction

- Construction began in March and we aim to complete the build in June in QUB
- The fully assembled bridge will be proof loaded in QUB
- A final decision to place the bridge on site will be taken once it has been tested
- Belfast City Council have given us permission to build the bridge at Clement Wilson Park
- We would like to place the bridge over the Lagan but we have contingency plans in place
- Twenty four 3rd year QUB students are leading the design and construction
- Forty secondary stage school pupils will have come in to assist at various stages
- In excess of 100 students benefitting /involved this year
- At end of project Meccano will be given to schools for free as a learning resource

Funding is from DCAL, AECOM, QUB Annual Fund with technical support from McLauglin and Harvey.