Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware Chapter

On Saturday morning, April 19, 2008, at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Chapter will sponsor our Annual Student Beam Competition for the 23rd time. Teams of not less than two nor more than five undergraduate students enrolled at any university or college with no geographical restrictions are eligible to compete for the $3,000 in prizes given to the winners. The beam specimen must fit into a 40” x 5.5” x 2.5” envelope reinforced with at least one but no more than two steel #4 reinforcing bars 39” long. The concrete mix may contain any nonmetallic aggregate, or chemical admixture, but no cementitious materials other than portland cement, blended hydraulic cement, ground granulated slag, or silica fume. The beam may contain no more than 7.5 pounds of cementitious material and no fibers of any kind are permitted.

The students gain insights on the effects of tolerances in beam fabrication as well as concrete mix technology, and structural design parameters. It is the mission of the Chapter to challenge the ingenuity of the students and to foster communication and involvement among students, faculty, and industry.

It has always been traditional for the Chapter President and other representatives of the Chapter to be present to act as judges. Some material suppliers have donated concrete mix ingredients. ACI National now holds a similar competition during their Fall Conventions which was patterned very closely after ours.

[Student Beam Competition Event Participants from the 2003 competition are shown above.]

Design and construct a concrete beam reinforced with steel reinforcement bars in accordance with the contest rules, predict the ultimate load, and predict the load that will result in a midspan deflection of 1/4 inch.

Undergraduate students enrolled on a full or part-time basis at any college or university.

Highest Ultimate Load to weight Ratio		$1,500
Most Accurate Prediction of Loads		$1,500
Each team is only eligible for one prize.

For an Official Entry Form and complete contest rules, contact EPDACI Student Beam Competition Chairman Donald S. Spitzer, P.E., at dspitzer@pennoni.com.

Please submit Part 1 of the Official Entry Form as early as possible, but no later than the deadline: March 21, 2008.

Participating students and their Faculty Advisors will be invited as our guests to attend our annual Awards Banquet to receive their prizes.