Trebuchets and Bridges: Reconnecting Structural Education with the Real World

摘要

Large-scale structural engineering competitions have been held for two years at the University of Edinburgh and have provided an opportunity for students to work in groups from across academic years and to experience the challenges and complications of practical engineering away from a traditional lecture-based learning environment. The structural engineering educational benefits are many and include students gaining an appreciation of the importance of conceptual design, identifying key load-bearing requirements, thinking of structural mechanics in three dimensions, and honing practical skills. Wider benefits to students include developing team-working experience, coping with failure, and being more engaged with their degrees. The benefits of using a week a year for imaginative, practical problem solving within an engineering degree have also been highlighted.