Official Rules (Last modified 2007-02-14)
- Maximum group size is four people. Only one entry per group.
- The
entire bridge must be constructed solely of pasta (see number 3 below),
hot melt glue and the official U-Bolt and Platform (see number 8 below).
- Any solid, round, commercial pasta (e.g. spaghetti, spaghettini or
vermicelli) may be used as long as its initial diameter is not greater
than 3 mm and not less than 1 mm. Noodles can be made of wheat or
rice pasta.
- Only hot melt glue (any grade is acceptable) shall be used as a spaghetti
bonding material. Other types of bonding materials such as epoxy
are not permitted.
- Bridges must span a gorge measured from vertical contact to vertical contact. The horizontal surface of the gorge on each side is used for support. The vertical edge of the gorge may not be used (no thrust support from side banks permitted). All bridges have to be able to support their own weight when spanning the gorge.
Gorge width:
Technology students and Open competition: 1000 millimetres
Grades 10-12: 750 millimetres
Grades 6-9: 500 millimetres
- The vertical depth of your bridge may not exceed 500 mm. This
dimension does not include the official U-Bolt apparatus described in
number 8 below.
- The bridge may not be heavier than the maximum weight listed below, including the Official U-Bolt and Platform. This maximum weight does not include any additional wires or cables installed to transmit the load to the Official U-bolt. Where the additional wires or cables cannot be removed, they will be included in the official weight of the bridge.
Maximum Weight:
Technology students and Open competition: 750 grams
Grades 10-12: 600 grams
Grades 6-9: 500 grams
- The “Official U-Bolt and Platform” must be built into
your bridge. The Official U-Bolt and Platform must not be modified
in any way. They are used to attach the massive loads to your construction. You
must allow for the load carrying attachment to be hung, directly or indirectly,
from the U-Bolt. The official U-Bolt is centrally located on a 7 mm
x 50 mm x 100 mm wood platform. The platform shall be located at
the mid-span of your bridge at, or above , the horizontal surface of
the gorge.
- The Winners in each category are determined as follows (all decisions are final):
Strength Competition – Each bridge will be loaded by a person from the group that built the bridge. The weight may be applied in increments as decided by the builder group. A minimum 10 second waiting period is required between load applications. The final Official Load is the last load that the bridge withstood for a period of 10 seconds prior to destruction. Timing is provided by the Official Timekeeper. The winner is the legal bridge with the highest Official Load divided by the bridge weight.