Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC) 2026
Fernando Catpo, Alexandro Silva, Denzel DeHoyos, Eli Mehrling, Karlo Tanjuakio, Leo Wen, Robert Phillips, Alex Yanez
School of Engineering
Faculty Supervisor: Zhaoshuo Jiang
The purpose of this project is to design, fabricate, and construct a 1:10 scale steel bridge for the 2026 SSBC MidPac Competition based on the Rio Grande crossing problem statement. The bridge will serve as a conceptual pedestrian and light vehicle crossing north of El Paso, emphasizing strength, stability, constructability, and aesthetics. The design must meet all competition requirements, including restrictions on height, construction zone limits, and the prohibition of piers within the river or its banks. The project aims to create a lightweight, efficient, and constructible structure that demonstrates superior performance under simulated loading while minimizing material use and construction time. Considerations include lateral and vertical load resistance, stiffness, cost efficiency, and visual appeal, reflecting real-world design-build challenges in steel bridge engineering.