Bridges

The purpose of this project is to calculate, build and test a truss bridge. Three main truss designs are going to be used: Warren, Pratt, and Howe. Under the assumptions that only vertical loads are applied on the truss nodes, and the weight of the elements is negligible, the tensions-compressions on the bridge truss elements are calculated using right triangle Trigonometry, and Physics free body diagrams. A spreadsheet like Google Sheets or MS-Excel, it is used to solve the resulting system of linear equations.

After performed the forces analysis and tension-compression calculations, students will build the truss bridge using poplar wood dowels, and carpenters glue. Finally students will test their bridges strength in class.

Project's Rubric link: https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/50-projects-activities-and-assignments?playlist=5-analytic-trigonometry#

Design and Calculation

Construction and Testing