A Bridge Between Towers Made of 800g of Spaghetti Can Withstand a Load of 12,500 G
01 December 2024
For the tenth year, Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” has become a center of creativity and innovative thinking among future engineers and architects who took part in the tenth edition of the Varna Spaghetti Engineering International Competition. The event, organized by the Construction of Buildings and Facilities Department enrolled young talents from all over the country and from abroad, providing a unique platform for demonstrating innovation and creativity in the field of construction and architecture.
The competition was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eleonora Tankova, Vice-Rector of Varna Free University, who congratulated the participants and emphasized the importance of innovative thinking and practical skills among students.
13 student teams from vocational high schools in construction, architecture and geodesy and four university teams took part in the event this year. The school students faced the task of designing and building spaghetti towers in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid. Each team was consulted by a student majoring in Construction of Buildings and Facilities or Architecture.
Team ‘Stremez’ (Drive) - from the Vasil Levski Vocational High School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy, Varna - Georgi Georgiev, Ivona Borisova and Daliya Rashidova, with a mentor the third-year student in Architecture Victoria Filimonova, ranked first.
The team ‘Apollo’ from Shumen - Stanislav Andreev, Mertan Ibryamov and Yoanna Nedeva, with the mentor Nevena Atanasova, majoring in Architecture came second. The third place was for the team ‘Experiment’ from Veliko Tarnovo - Bozhidar Kushev, Kamelia Pavleva and Yasen Hristov with the fourth-year student, majoring in Construction of Buildings and Facilities - Anna Dimova as their mentor.
The task for the university students was significantly more complicated - building two towers connected by a bridge structure at a minimum height of one meter. All facilities underwent tests - vertical loading and a simulated earthquake. A jury of experts and university lecturers, as well as the audience, decided on the winners.
The undisputed winner was the 'Sapphire' team, which included Turkish students from VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar". The project received 62 out of 89 points from the jury. Within the framework of the competition, the structure, made of 800 g of spaghetti and located between two towers at a height of 110 cm, withstood a load and an earthquake test of 7,500 G without any problems. At the request of the team and outside the competition, the bridge was maximally loaded until its complete destruction. The structure withstood 12,500 G, but collapsed during the earthquake simulation. The bridge structure of the 'Sapphire' team impressed everyone with its beauty, engineering complexity and durability. The team was awarded a cash prize from 'Planex Varna' Ltd, an interview in the next issue of the Stroitel newspaper and diplomas.
For the first time in the history of the competition, an award was presented in the name of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milena Kichekova - founder of Varna Spaghetti Engineering. The award is given for the most creative engineering structure, it is dedicated to the memory of Assoc. Prof. Kichekova and the inspiration that she left behind, as well as to her contribution to the development of innovative education in engineering sciences.
The first holder of this special award was the team 'Brigada Nov Silikon' from the Sofia Vocational School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy "Hristo Botev", with mentor Yoana Dimitrova, majoring in Architecture. The project of the students from the Sofia Vocational School impressed the jury and the audience with its overall concept for a modern, innovative and environmentally friendly structure for a business building, in which people have all the conditions for work and recreation.
The fourth-year student Nikol Kurteva, majoring in Construction of Buildings and Facilities was awarded the best mentor. She received a two-month paid internship as a prize in one of the key companies "Amata" - a partner of the competition.
Special awards were presented by the Chamber of Engineers in Investment Design - Regional Office - Varna, the Chamber of Builders in Bulgaria - Regional Representative Office - Varna, "Planex Varna" Ltd, etc.
"The competition has become traditional and we are very pleased with the fact that we managed to arouse the interest of students in it", said Tihomira Kordon, a civil engineer and assistant professor at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", for Radio Varna. She herself has participated in all editions of the competition - as a competitor, mentor, teacher and now the main organizer. "Many of the students who participate then continue their education at the university, a significant part of them become teachers in schools and now come with their students", said she. Tihomira Kordon added that this year the higher education institution received one of the highest marks in the country for its engineering specialties and the specialty "Architecture" by the accreditation committee.
"Varna Spaghetti Engineering is an event that not only demonstrates the talent of young engineers, but also provides an opportunity to develop practical skills, explore innovative approaches and creativity. In the context of the growing need for highly qualified personnel in the construction sector, the initiative plays an important role in building future professionals", commented Assoc. Prof. Dr. Daria Mikhaleva - Head of the Construction of Buildings and Facilities Department. She gave her high opinion of the participants, in front of the bTV team, for their professional and creative skills.
The event was held with the support of the partners:
Varna Regional Office of the Bulgarian Chamber of Builders,
Chamber of Engineers in Investment Design - Regional Office - Varna,
"Hydrostroy" AD,
"Planex Varna" Ltd,
"Atrim" Ltd
Röfix
The competition enjoyed exceptional interest from the media, as teams from the national television bTV, the media of the Chamber of Engineers – “Stroitel” newspaper and Radio Varna, covered the stages of the competition featuring reports and interviews with the participants and the organizers.
Watch the reports on bTV►
Listen to the reports on Radio Varna ►
Read an interview in the "Stroitel" newspaper ►
We are grateful to the business and our media partners for their support - the "Stroitel" newspaper, Moreto.net and Radio Varna.
