Smart engineering triumphs at nationwide bridge challenge
The team receiving the champion trophy, medals, certificates, and cash prize after winning the Vital Factor Consulting Cup 2026.
A team of engineering students from Monash University Malaysia emerged as the Overall Champions at the Vital Factor Consulting Cup 2026: MACSian74 Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a nationwide bridge-building competition held in Melaka. A total of 106 teams from Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor took part in the competition, which attracted an estimated 2,000 visitors.
The competition challenged participants to build model bridges spanning 0.5 metres using only ice cream sticks, string and glue. Unlike conventional engineering contests, where the strongest structure may appear to have the advantage, winners were assessed based on the ratio between the load supported and the amount of authorised materials used.
The team was advised by Associate Professor M E Raghunandan (Deputy Director of the Monash Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Research Hub (M-CRInfra) and Associate Professor in Geomechanics, Department of Civil Engineering), Dr Kong Sih Ying (Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering), Thanusan Ranjan (PhD Student), and student-led by Ho Jun Xin (Common First Year Engineering student), alongside Nicholas Choong Chen Juin (Year 2 Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering student), and Chong Xin Hui (Common First Year Engineering student), with Murugan Suppiah (Principal Technical Officer, School of Engineering) providing technical support. The team secured both the Overall Champions title and the Open Category Championship after their bridge carried 39,000 grams using only 185 units of material. This gave the team the highest efficiency score of 211 and total prize money of RM18,000.
While another bridge carried the day’s highest load of 51,000 grams, it used 340 material units and achieved a lower efficiency score, underscoring the importance of optimisation. Engineers are expected not only to build stronger structures but also to deliver optimal performance using available resources efficiently.
The team’s winning strategy focused on maximising structural efficiency rather than simply adding more materials for strength. Using truss simulations and structural analysis, the team identified critical load paths and reinforced only the members that contributed significantly to the bridge’s performance. They also tested multiple prototypes, refining their truss configurations, connection mechanisms and reinforcement strategies before arriving at the final design.
Final assembly and curing phase of the model truss bridge during the competition.
The bridge incorporated several fundamental engineering principles, including triangular truss configurations for stability, symmetrical design for even load distribution, and strong joint alignment for effective force transfer. The team also overcame practical challenges during construction, including the drying time of UHU glue and the limited construction window of one hour and 30 minutes.
Their experience at the university also played a key role in preparing them for the competition. Through coursework, project-based learning and access to basic testing setups, the students were able to apply theoretical knowledge to a hands-on engineering challenge. The team shared that the preparation process also strengthened their teamwork, communication and time management skills.
Champion medals received in recognition of the victory at the Vital Factor Consulting Cup 2026.