OFFICIAL: World's 2nd Strongest Paper Bridge

A High School Physics student built a bridge out of nothing but paper and glue and it was able to withstand 1,041 Lbs before failure. The bridge only weighed 1.1Lbs (480g).
Update: in 2008 during the same in-school competition, a girl, "insert name", beat Greg Overton's record by 30 Lbs, during the official school competition. Greg commented "I'm not upset. I still invented the design that she [current record holder] used. She didn't do anything differently. I'm not going to build another one because my name is already in the record book and will always be there. I encourage people to break even the new record [1071 Lbs]. In fact, I challenge anyone to beat 1500Lbs. They could post their vids on youtube or something and our physics classes could try and figure out exactly how they did it. I'd love to one day see a car hanging from one of these paper bridges, wouldn't you [interviewer]?" The rules guidelines and procedures for this project can be found in the "bridge" link on www.gravitykill...

[@Mattersmatter]

Upon retrieving and examining the bridge that actually flew through the air a distance of almost 4 feet from the tables it was realized that the bridge had indeed not broken and it was found out that the ¼" thick stainless-steel hook bolt had bent open and the chain had slid off. The teachers didn't stop there however; the bridge HAD to be destroyed!

[@earthenscience]

You need to redo the contest but use computerized equipment this time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6aVdYKCjdCjnrM Greg's bridge could have failed at 700 lbs but you might not know it. With the equipment in the contest you could detect only catastrophic failure, not an initial bridge failure.

[@Mattersmatter]

For the tension members the best technique is to layer strips of paper and 'laminate' them with glue. Staggering them also helps. News paper is difficult because it is so brittle when wet. Don't use any water based glue. (elmers/wood glue/ect). the advantage of news paper vs. white paper is that news paper comes in bigger sheets; allowing for large, seemless parts.

[@earthenscience]

If I was running the competition I'd make a rule to use Elmer's Maximum Strength White Glue and all the same brand and product of paper. This is to make sure the contest remains competitive. Victories decided by knowing the fiber strength of newspaper compared to office brands seems outside the purview of the contest.

[@Mattersmatter]

Greg Overton , a student at Plano West Senior High school, proved that with the proper application of forces, paper can be stronger than steel. The feat was accomplished by constructing a simple warren truss bridge entirely out of white laser paper and glue. During testing, the bridge was placed across a span of 50cm with a steel bolt assembly connected through the center of the road-way which suspended the loading zone (a piece of plywood that weights are placed on top of) from the bridge.

[@joel1st]

If it held 564lbs and could only weigh 35g, the winning team have smashed that video, if it was to be in proportion.

[@Mattersmatter]

10Lb weights were then added to the loading zone carefully, slowly increasing the force of the bridge. At 950Lbs a loud crack was heard and everyone (including Greg and those watching a school-wide broadcast of the event on closed-circuit TV) assumed that the bridge had broken, leaving Greg in a state of dismay that his bridge had come so close to his goal of 1000Lbs.

[@Mattersmatter]

The bridge, which is part of a project that all PISD physics students must do, was the second one Greg had built. The first bridge was part of the actual competition/project and held 751Lbs. while another student and Greg's best friend, Matthew Brenner came in second place with a bridge that held 761Lbs, and the winning bridge held 791Lbs. But being a very competitively-minded and mechanically adept young man, Greg just had to beat the record and realized he could do so.

[@Mattersmatter]

The best technique for the tension members is pre-stressing them. Cylinders or "tubes" are the best choice for geometry, and rolling seems to be the best method. Take an entire sheet of news paper (or maybe cut it in half) but only 1 layer thick, and tape it on its edge to somekind of bar (I used a 1/2" cold-rolled steel bar).

[@earthenscience]

Are you suggesting that the main reason for rolling them, is to pre-stress them? Or are those two separate things?

[@Mattersmatter]

roll the paper 1 time around the bar and then put a bead line of glue all the way across the length of the bar. put your entire body weight (atleast 100 lbs) on the bar and roll it (compressing and evening out the glue at the same time. keep rolling until the paper is dry (and needs more glue), then repeat, remember to keep the pressure on the bar constant (never let of until it is done).

[@earthenscience]

I am not entirely understanding this method. If you want to saturate the glue why use a 1 dimensional bead line? The glue should be spread throughout the surface area. And how to apply body pressure seems difficult to setup, is it like one of those acrobats where they stand on a barrel to roll the barrel?

[@Mattersmatter]

for the tension members rolling is highly unneccessary and actually reduces strength. folding is also no good because creasing the paper causes the fibers to separate and break, causing a pre-stressed point (weak point).

[@Mattersmatter]

News paper is a different material entirely from laser paper. news paper is very porous and has highly separated fibers. This reduces its tensile strength but also makes it much thinner and less dense (lighter in weight). Meaning you can/need to use more of it than laser paper.

[@taz_md]

thank you for all the help on the bridge! unbelievable a bridge can withstand this much weight

[@Mattersmatter]

This time two hook bolts were used along with an extra piece of steel chain. This time the testing rig almost failed again (the loading zone cracked), but not before the bridge did at a whopping 1,041Lbs. Some students jokingly commented that Greg should change his last name from Overton to Overhafaton (Over-half-a-ton).

[@PlanoSarah]

We had a girl who's bridge held 810lb after it broke the hook the first time. Which is pretty good since it was the actually test during class when it was due, not something she built after seeing where/how the design would fail. ;) But this bridge is still pretty amazing.

[@Mattersmatter]

Student researchers have not been able to locate any instance of this project or similar projects anywhere, making this the unconfirmed world record.

[@I_leave_mean_comments]

But can the bridge hold your mom?

[@Mattersmatter]

that part is absolutely critical. he cut the cylinders using a miter saw and a table saw with a very fine toothed blade, such as one that could be used for birch wood. he then glued the exposed surface areas of each peice togehter with a very strong epoxy (J&B weld)

[@Mattersmatter]

He went through 4-5 2oz bottles of super-viscous high cyano-acrilate content super glue, purchased at "Plano RC Hobby". Along with a single purchase of J&B weld, the newest version, to hold the joints together. there are however, countless substitues and alternatives. The key is to remember to get a glue that saturates through all of the paper, while not weighing very much, and a different type of glue for the joints. (usually somekind of resin or epoxy).

[@Mattersmatter]

precisely. Tension = flat pulling force (a 2 dimensional planar force). Compression = full sqeezing force (a 3D trimodal vector force). The only need for using tubes is that under compression, there is a lower tendency for shear forces to occur versus other geometrys.

[@JamisonProject]

It bent because it wasn't strong enough.. he is a GENIOUS!!! My cereal dissapears because i am hungry-now im on to something

[@Mattersmatter]

elmers white glue takes forever but works well for laminating the tension members

[@Mattersmatter]

Once the first sheet has been rollglued all the way around the bar, tape another peice to the end of the rolled up peice and continue until the desired thickness is aquired.

[@Mattersmatter]

you heard wrong, the horizontal tension members experience no compression under the proper loading. The simulation is ideal, you just need to learn how to use it properly

[@Mattersmatter]

well obviously nothing can be done about the length (span) of the bridge because that value is fixed (50cm). The total length of the bridge should be less than 53cm. Width = twist stability; the wider the bridge is, the more it will resist tortion which can lead to sheer forces kinking, bending, or breaking your compression members.

[@Mattersmatter]

If you watch the video carefully, you will see two large 1" dia. tubes running perpendicular to the span, ontop of which the "mounting block" from which the hook is suspended sits. These tubes are suspended by the tensio0n members, as if to make a "cradle".

[@Mattersmatter]

contact cement? That's a pretty generic catagory...you'll have to be more specific. Remeber however, that I mentioned using a glue that SATURATES through the paper for everything except joints, and to use a flexible glue for tension members. i.e. : use somekind of cyanoacrylate based glue for roll glueing the compression members, and use somekind of water-based for tension member lamination

[@budgiebreder]

the platform must weigh 11 pounds? idk just a guess but we were never told how much the platform and hook weigh. you have to remember it is holding them up as well =)

[@Mattersmatter]

water causes the paper fibers to separate, making the paper expand, thus pulling the fibers apart. no. water is very bad news.

[@SwinubLoveShaymin]

I realized how strong paper are now, thanks to this bridge! Right now, I'm gonna started on my paper underwear and see if it can stay still in my gun fight with Lucky Luke...

[@Mattersmatter]

Don't go more than 15cm in total width; I would try to stay around 9-12cm. Height should be maximized; try to get the height as close as possible to 30cm. Greg's and mine were both 29.96cm tall. I am not Mr. Arnett

[@BigG507]

hahahahaha 6:25-6:31 he sounds like bush hahaha

[@VEC7ORlt]

Damn, half a ton. I want my kids to have competitions like this at school.

[@geeladed]

My left ear loves this

[@Thugz4Real]

wow. i didn't know u were doing what your vid description says! interesting. (my newspaper bridge held around 270lbs last year)

[@budgiebreder]

design. it's not about the material as much as the design. using shaped like triangles makes it stronger.

[@Mattersmatter]

the wooden platform and chains weigh 11Lbs. 11+1030=1041.

[@Jcbryant123]

i read threw all of your comments, and got the proper glue and all the materials needed, but how did you roll up your paper tight enough. im using newspaper to build my bridge,so that may be a difference, but any help would be appreciated

[@Ohnodiwu]

Greg Overton = Beast

[@Mattersmatter]

This is being reviewed by Guinness world records. it is officially the US record however.

[@Strayangelxdemon]

(sorry about that, friend's brother was playing around. I didnt mean to be rude)

[@Strayangelxdemon]

Hi im working on the bridge project now and i was wondering how he connected the cylidrical members

[@dnrncn]

does anyone know what kind of glue overton used inside his members also, has anyone tried hot glue for tension since it seems rather flexible

[@dagonra]

I was wondering what kind of glue was used? and how much (estimate)?

[@speeedskater]

very cool!!

[@Mattersmatter]

the simulation numbers are relative percentages of the total force load

[@Fillipin069]

OMG ITS MR ARNETT!!!

[@spikdboy]

intense

[@CrashingThunder]

LAWL. The hook broke first xD

[@Thugz4Real]

lol

[@plot000000]

that's awesome.

[@fitimio001]

I agree.

[@jlapido]

hmmm... he sed 1030 lbs and thats for sure, but i guess the weight of the chains and platform also count

[@Mattersmatter]

nope. his dad is a great guy, no bastards here. plus, there was no cheating involved.

[@LinkHyruleGanondorf]

Skip to 9:30 to cut to the chase.

[@Mattersmatter]

um, i'm really sorry buddy but i have no clue what u r trying to say?!!?!??! and there are 4 people because the weights need to be placed at the same time on each of the 4 corners so that the weight does not unbalance the rig (tilt it) which might cause uneven force or could cause the weights to slid off of a person. And trust me, you would not enjoy over 100 10lb weights all over you in a big pile all of the sudden (OW!).

[@Dkryskowski]

poor table

[@Arq.Javier.Montenegro]

@the3chosenone hahahaha

[@superkiller2009]

who did? kevin?

[@TehKang]

ah ok. my bad

[@Mattersmatter]

see the comments below...

[@tubeuser147]

where's the world's 1st strongest paper bridge?

[@chickenpoper]

Can you please give me design by Friday please? I need it for science club bridge strength test. I promise I will give you credit for your design.

[@GuitarSK8boarding]

@the3chosenone I would expect such a stupid question from someone with no ability to spell or use grammar. "why isnt all" "brigest"

[@TehKang]

1,030 not 1,041 but impressive nontheless

[@isnipeu11]

VAAAAAGGGGGGGGGIINNNNNNAAAAAA

[@b4basketball14]

omg what a fail it couldn;t even hold up me!!! no jk

[@Mattersmatter]

please comment on this video!!!

[@skhangr800]

UnbeLIvAble o_O

[@iMMoRTalxm]

4:50

[@SuperPinky678]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[@Drake3498]

wdf....

[@Mattersmatter]

go back to vector math to figure out the optimal angles

[@noobpwnerful]

no lol 1.1 not 11 :D

[@elikrzepis]

meh seems legit