As an introductory assignment to MMU the Product Design Technology and Mechanical Design Technology students were asked to build bridges using only pasta.

They could use an unlimited amount of glue. The only limitations were that a bridge could be no more than 50cm in height and weigh no more than 1Kg.

Any group breaking these limitations would incur a penalty when the designs were tested.

At the end of the assignment each team would compete to see who had constructed the strongest bridge.

Taken in turns, each bridge was placed across a high gap. Weights were added until the bridge collapsed or toppled. The results were recorded.

A prize was awarded to the team of the bridge that took the highest load and the team with the highest bridge mass to load failure ratio.

The purpose of the assignment was to serve as an introduction to MMU and to facilitate new students to work together. The assignment is also supposed help generate an interest and understanding of the importance of design and manufacture of products and the relationship they have.