Grade 5 Students Learn about Bridge Construction

Three engineering graduate students from the University of Toronto recently spoke to our Grade 5 students about bridges and natural disasters. Keeping their own bridge designs in mind, students had the opportunity to learn about ways structures are reinforced to withstand natural disasters, specifically earthquakes. Students learned about earthquakes and the seismic design procedure. Using a load cell and truss bridge example, students saw first hand how loads increase in structures due to the the level of ground shaking. Students also learned about the responsibility of an engineer and the need to ensure the safety of their design.