Engineering triumph of WUT students in Prague. Warsaw trusses unbeatable!

The aim of the international competition was to design and build a timber truss with a span of 1.3 metres. The challenge was based on structural efficiency: the winning entry was the one with the most favourable ratio of load‑bearing capacity to self‑weight. The task required not only advanced knowledge of structural mechanics but also exceptional precision in execution.

Structures from WUT

The competition was won by the team “The Adamant”, composed of Adrian Ciura and Kacper Bednarczuk. Their design was a model example of engineering optimisation. The truss, with a self‑weight of only 269.7 g, carried a load of 86.4 kg. This outstanding result yielded the highest efficiency coefficient among all participating teams, confirming the effectiveness of the adopted design assumptions.

“By designing our bridge, we proved that the key to success is a deep understanding of the problem - just like in life,” says Kacper Bednarczuk. “Although our structure was very standard compared with other, more daring designs, it was precision and the reliable application of the theory we learned during our studies and professional work that allowed us to win. We confirmed that understanding the principles governing a solution makes it possible to meet even the most demanding requirements.”

Second place went to representatives of the Steel Structures Research Group operating at the Warsaw University of Technology. The team “CRAZY FROGS”, composed of Hubert Budziak, Paweł Galemba and Mateusz Konopka, presented a structure weighing 593.4 g. The model demonstrated exceptional stiffness and strength, carrying the full load of 100 kg. It is worth noting that, according to the competition rules, 100 kg was the upper limit of the load counted towards the score. Although the WUT students’ structure had additional load‑bearing capacity that would have allowed it to withstand higher forces, the final classification included only the maximum value permitted by the organisers.

“While designing our model for this year’s competition in Prague, we chose proven engineering solutions,” says Hubert Budziak. “We were looking for a structure that would carry as much load as possible while remaining simple and quick to assemble, and we found excellent inspiration. The answer was the Bailey bridge – a classic World War II structure that secured us second place and confirmed that historical engineering patterns continue to provide a strong foundation for modern designs.”

Students from the Steel Structures Research Group at the Hall of the Year competition

Four teams composed of students from the Warsaw University of Technology and the Wrocław University of Science and Technology also took part in this year’s competition. Their participation was the result of cooperation between the WUT Bridge Research Group and the Young Construction Managers Research Group of WUST. In their debut, the joint team delivered a strong performance, outperforming nearly 70 percent of all competing groups. The WUT Bridge Research Group was represented by Justyna Wieteska, Antoni Karbowiak, Patryk Warszton, Nikodem Sarnicki, Maciej Klepaczka, Jakub Szerszeniewski, Piotr Ambrochowicz and Łukasz Kruk. The international composition of the fifteen‑member team enabled valuable exchange of experience in both national and global contexts, and the entire WUT–WUST collaboration project would not have been possible without the support of the Faculty Authorities and the significant assistance of the partner company Sarinż.

Practical dimension of education

Participation in Hall of The Year offers Warsaw University of Technology students an opportunity to verify theoretical calculation models under real‑world conditions. The preparation process included multiple static and strength analyses as well as the selection of appropriate timber‑joining techniques, all of which directly translate into their future professional work in structural design.

The international successes of our students demonstrate the high quality of education and the strong research potential of the student groups operating within our university. Competing at such a high level confirmed the solid academic preparation of our students and their ability to handle demanding engineering challenges throughout the competition.