Jumat, 08 Oktober 2010

National Science Foundation and the Willamette River Bridge


From ODOT-


Earlier this week I had the privilege of escorting a film crew associated with Oregon State University, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Science and the National Science Foundation around the WRB project. The end product is a NSF piece for classroom use, aimed at students who are having a harder time grasping math concepts as they apply to real world.


This bridge project attracted them because of the unique arches that will support the new bridges. The arches, which may appear decorative to the casual observer, are actually highly technical, carefully engineered supports based on a modern update of construction principles used in the Roman Empire. The process to construct the arches requires a series of complex steps executed perfectly in concert- from the wooden arch structure and rebar cages that will frame poured concrete to the casting of the crown used to support the weight of both sides holding the arches together and providing the necessary strength for the overall bridge structure.


In addition to interviewing the project manager and a couple of engineers, the crew also interviewed one of the carpenter apprentice workers. She explained how she uses fundamental physics and math everyday in her job on the construction site.


Once the video and supporting curricular materials are completed, the NSF will make the materials available for free download through an associated website and catalogued by the NSF National Science Digital Library.

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