The Prestressed Mini-Beam Competition focuses on constructing precast, prestressed concrete beams, a method characterized by primary reinforcement using seven wire wrapped steel cables pre-tensioned before concrete casting, thereby achieving prestressing. In this competition, participants substitute traditional steel cables with tensioned bass guitar strings. Each team is tasked with designing and fabricating beam cross-sections adhering to specific dimensions and volumes, followed by casting the concrete beams.

Each constructed beam undergoes testing the day after casting to determine its ultimate load capacity. Testing employs a simply supported center-point loading method to assess structural performance under load. Teams are evaluated not only on the strength of their beams but also on the accuracy of their design calculations. Evaluation criteria include calculating the percentage difference between the ultimate load achieved during testing and the load predicted through design calculations. This method ensures a comprehensive assessment of structural integrity and design accuracy in the competition.

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The first CSUN ASCE Prestressed Mini-Beam Project Team was created in 2025. At the 2025 PSWS, the project team ranked 5th.