The annual bridge building contest is a huge event at Notre Dame

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The annual bridge building contest is a huge event at Notre Dame. The contest began in 1980. Over the years the staff and students have seen some very professional-looking designs.

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These bridges were made mostly for design points, not strength points. Some participants take this path and may end up with bonus points.

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On the other hand, some participants construct a bridge for brute strength. Here are some designs from the past.

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This is the setup used to test the bridge's strength. A metal garbage can is attached to a car that fits on the road of the bridge. This car has a bolt across it which allows four chains from the can to be attached.