Saint Louis University students recently participated in an engineering challenge where they constructed bridges using cardboard tubes and duct tape. This event, part of the School of Science and Engineering’s activities, took place on November 13, 2024, with the collaboration of industry partner TWM.
Fifteen teams competed in this timed innovation challenge. The winning team consisted of Jaisri Akaram, Bharath Bandlamudi, Jahnavi Uppugandla, and Abhilash Kurapati. Each team had more than three members and was tasked with creating a bridge within one hour using eight cardboard tubes and a roll of duct tape.
The completed bridges were evaluated based on their design, the effective use of tape, and their weight-bearing capacity. For testing purposes, each structure was placed on Lego stands and secured before being loaded with 203 pounds of sand.
