Every time you drive across a bridge, you introduce a new moving force.  What if you are one the bridge with three tandem trucks and 40 other cars when hurricane winds come along?  Will it be safe?

It's the structural engineer's job to identify all the possible loads.  What design should she select for the site?  What materials are appropriate? 

Let's say you just bought an "old" new home with lots of character, but too many small rooms.  You want to remove walls.  Will the house collapse?  You want to hire a builder who understands forces in structures and how to select materials.  Or maybe you want to tear out the walls yourself. 

This project will help you and your classmates understand enough about forces, structures and materials to make good engineering decisions . . .  and create your own structures.