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PROJECT 04 / 11 · ME412 / 161 · SAMPE

SAMPE Composite I-Beam

A SAMPE bridge composite I-beam for ME412/161, engineered to be the lightest beam that still carries the maximum point load in three-point bending.

ClassME412 / 161
ChallengeSAMPE bridge
GoalMax load ÷ min mass
FlangesUD pre-preg carbon
CoreNomex sandwich web
Result9 kN at 312 g
Overview

The SAMPE challenge rewards the highest point load per unit mass in three-point bending. I designed an I-beam with unidirectional pre-preg carbon flanges to carry bending stress efficiently, with a Nomex sandwich core in the web to resist shear and buckling at minimum weight.

Careful ply orientation and a clean cure produced a beam that held 9 kN at just 312 grams, light enough to lift in one hand, stiff enough to stand on (as in the post-test photo).

Highlights
Gallery / 07 frames
Manufactured I-beam
Manufactured I-beam
Cross section
Cross section
Pre-preg layup
Pre-preg layup
Nomex sandwich core
Nomex sandwich core
Before trimming
Before trimming
Unidirectional plies
Unidirectional plies
Standing on the beam, post-test
Standing on the beam, post-test