As part of the KL/ME II lecture, students acquire in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of strength assessment for machine elements. This knowledge is applied in a semester-long design challenge, in which students develop a bridge structure that maximizes load-bearing capacity while minimizing self-weight.
The bridge structures are made of wood and manufactured using laser cutting techniques. The objective is to develop a structurally efficient solution under realistic boundary conditions.
The highlight of the semester is the final lecture session, where all constructed bridges are tested in a custom-built test rig. Each bridge is loaded incrementally until failure. The winning team is the one whose bridge demonstrates the best ratio of load-bearing capacity to self-weight—meaning that success depends not solely on absolute strength, but on engineering efficiency.
We thank all participants of the 2025 Challenge for their dedication and enthusiasm, and we look forward to the creative and innovative designs in the upcoming 2026 Challenge.