Which bridge is the strongest?

Warren Truss Bridge

I am building a Warren truss bridge. My hope for this bridge,is that it can withstand a weight load up to twenty pounds using less than one half a pound of construction materials. The bridge, using normally less than stable materials such as popsicle sticks will be able to withstand weight far greater than one would expect by it’s design elements.

Hypothesis

For my Truss bridge, I predict that it can hold up to twenty pounds. The reason I say this is because it is a structurally sound design, based on the triangle principle of construction, which consists of tension and compression being distributed amongst the bridge’s supports.

Step By Step

• 1. I used Elmer’s wood glue and popsicle sticks to create the bridge.

  2. I created the base by gluing five popsicle sticks together, so that it would be reinforced. I also did this again on the top.

  3. I made twelve equilateral triangles, using three popsicle sticks connected to each other, and glued them to the sides of the bridge, to help distribute tension and compression.

  4. Single popsicle sticks were added to furthermore strengthen the bridge, and connect the bases together.

How Much it Held?

The Warren truss bridge held up to twenty pounds. It held this much because of the triangles on the sides distributing compression and tension throughout the bridge, so that it doesn’t all push on the base, making it collapse.

Conclusion

Yes I achieved my goal of holding twenty pounds of weight with my bridge design using just popsicle sticks and glue. I believe that the success of my design was due to the triangular pattern which spreads weight evenly from stress point to stress point, which in turn helps to support and strengthen itself. I think after further research, I could have made my bridge longer and stronger to further test the design’s overall strength and capacity.

I think by incorporating other materials, such as cables, nuts and washer as well as a more solid beam material, that my bridge could have much greater capabilities.

Abstract

Over the past few months, I have been working on a Warren truss bridge made out of popsicle sticks. The main goal is for this bridge is to be able to withstand a large amount of weight pulling down on it(around 20-30 pounds). In comparison to the weight of the bridge itself, this is a very structurally sound design.

I created the bridge using popsicle sticks and Elmer’s wood glue. The base of the bridge consists of two sets of five popsicle sticks overlapped to make it stronger. The same is done on the top. Triangles are lined up on both sides, and across the bridge to increase the strength and transfer the load or weight distribution. Single popsicle sticks are glued from side to side to reinforce the base and further strengthen the bridge structure with additional popsicles sticks then glued over them to tie the base together.

The bridge test has been done to a weight of 20 lbs, but has not been tested to its maximum capacity, so that the bridge can be displayed and evaluated.

Warren Truss bridges have triangles on the sides to spread out the compression and tension among the triangles, as opposed to it all being forced down to the initial beams.

By Ben Steiger