The Competition

The PCI Big Beam Contest requires the design of a 20 foot long, prestressed, steel reinforced concrete beam. The beam must carry a simulated service load of 20 ksi without cracking, and fail between 32 kips and 39 kips. 1HWI will be judged upon the following criteria:

• Designing a beam capable of carrying the loads listed previously
• Accurately predicting the loads at which the beam will crack and fail
• Building the lowest cost beam
• Building the lightest weight beam
• Creating the beam with the largest deflection
• Creating a quality report
• Designing a practical beam within established code

The designed beam must resist load primarily through flexure. Only a beam can be designed; trusses, arches and other non-flexural members are prohibited. Pozzolans, fibers, light weight aggregate, and admixture are permitted in the design, but will increase costs. The reinforcing steel must be pre-tensioned or post tensioned. All materials must be commercially available, with no experimental materials permitted. See Contest Rules.

PCI

Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) was founded in 1954 by pioneering engineers in the prestressed concrete industry. With over 1800 members, the institute seeks to improve design in the structural sector of engineering. PCI has sponsored competitions in design excellence for over 40 years and in 2005, began the PCI Big Beam Contest for collegiate engineers as a way to encourage innovation in prestressed concrete design.