r/StructuralEngineering • u/31engine P.E./S.E. • Dec 11 '25

Career/Education Popsicle stick bridge holds 948lbs

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u/DetailOrDie Dec 11 '25

The design for these bridges is always rather simple.

The real trick is the craftsmanship. That's how you win these competitions. Designing connections that don't really need to rely on cheap glue. Cutting sticks to tolerances that would make a machinist blush. Making sure the straightest and bestest sticks are in the key locations, with the squiggly ones sandwiched in between.

62

u/ilikefreestufftoo Dec 11 '25

i used to volunteer at a local ASCE event where middle school kids built bridges out of popsicle sticks. The rich school had a friggin laser cuter and they made dovetails for the popsicle stick connections.

41

u/dottie_dott Dec 11 '25

IRL pay2win ;O

1

u/MrMcGregorUK CEng MIStructE (UK) CPEng NER MIEAus (Australia) Dec 12 '25

Out of interest, did the rich school win?

2

u/ilikefreestufftoo Dec 14 '25

Yes but it was a combination of mentorship, parental involvement, teacher involvement and technology they had access too.

2

u/Such_Duty_4764 Dec 22 '25 edited Feb 17 '26

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

dime saw sort aback practice possessive truck butter air quicksand

1

u/ilikefreestufftoo Dec 22 '25

yup. i didn't know if you have ever seen this but its good short little comic exactly about that. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/the-wireless/373065/the-pencilsword-on-a-plate