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Define the Problem
Background
Imagine you live near the Pacific Ocean between the North American and Pacific plates. Although earthquakes are common in this area an 8.0 magnitude earthquake hits it. Hundreds of people die and thousands are misplaced. You are one of the many that are displaced and everyone around you is injured and lost. The worst part is that this could've been prevented. If the engineers of the tower had made sure it was more stronger against earthquakes none of this would've happened. Our goal is to make sure nothing like this ever happens by making earthquake resistant structures that could take heavy magnitude earthquakes.
Our Goal
Earthquakes have always been a huge problem for people to deal with as when the ground shakes there is nowhere for us to flee. Because of these earthquakes tens of thousands of people die and millions are displaced every year. They also cause loads of destruction as they cause billions of dollars worth of damage a year. This is why we plan to make structures that can withstand the strengths of these earthquakes and provide a safe shelter for anyone who needs it.
Generate Concepts
Criteria:
Minimum clear span of 20".
Maximum bridge length of 24".
The bridge deck must extend the entire length of the bridge and maintain a "vehicular roadway" without any obstruction (2" wide Ă— 2" high).
The bridge deck shall be the full width of the “vehicular roadway” and extend the entire length of the bridge’s longest dimension
The bridge deck shall be level (or flat).
The bridge deck shall be constructed using a single solid balsa wood sheet. The balsa wood sheet used for the deck must be 1/16" thick.
The bridge deck should be the full width of the “vehicular roadway” and extend the entire length of the bridge’s longest dimension
The bridge shall be a minimum of 2" wide and must allow a 2"Ă— 2" cube to be passed along the length of the bridge ("vehicular roadway" with no obstructions, referenced above)
Gussets, dowels and mitered joint connections are allowed, but only at the joint areas. They can be no thicker than " and no larger than 1/2 square inch in area.
Individual members shall be constructed of a single piece of balsa wood
The bridge must allow a 3"Ă—3" cube to be passed beneath it at mid-span, measured while the end supports are resting on a flat surface
The bridge must be freestanding.
There must be a 1/2" hole at mid-span in the bridge deck to allow for testing. There must be no obstructions below the hole that would prevent the passage of the testing rod.
A 1 ½ " wide × 3" long × 1/2" thick loading plate will be positioned over the hole in the deck at midspan, and placed directly on the balsa wood deck.
A testing rod will fit through the 1/2” hole in the balsa wood deck and attach to the loading plate.
Bridges will be loaded initially with only the bucket and testing apparatus. Dry sand will be added after the initial loading until the bridge collapses.
Constraints:
Laminated members are not allowed.
The bridge must not weigh more than 30g.
The bridge deck shall not be curved or arched.
A bridge may not be coated with any material (i.e. paint, stain, or glue).
There will be no use of steel bars to elevate the plate above the deck.
The bridge shall contain no member wider than 1/8" nor deeper than 1/8".
Building One Brainstorm
Building One Brainstorm
This was designed to be able to stand tall against up and down forces. The front side was made to have a zigzag pattern so the energy of the earthquake would keep being redirected until it hits the ground. The right side was meant to hold the building up as each floor would hold the one above it.
Building Two Brainstorm
Building Two Brainstorm
This was designed to be able take side to side forces. All sides would take in energy and redirect it out the structure with the x's. Then the vertical line on the right side is designed to hold the tower up.
Building Three Brainstorm
Building Three Brainstorm
This was designed to have a tight and strong build that could be strong against up and down and side to side forces. I reused the zig zag idea from brainstorm 1, but
Develop a Solution
Chosen Design
Chosen Design
We chose this design because our research taught us that every tower is already built to withstand up and down forces, so we needed to focus on side to side forces. When we learned this we immediately knocked out the building 1 brainstorm, as we made it to withstand up and down forces. Then we knocked out the building 3 brainstorm because it was too difficult to build. This left us with the building 2 brainstorm, which could withstand side to side forces better than brainstorm 1, while still being easier to build than brainstorm 3.
CAD Corner view Front/Right
CAD Corner view Front/Right
CAD Corner view Back/Left
CAD Corner view Back/Left
Front View
Front View
Right View
Right View
Back View
Back View
Left View
Left View
Structure drawing
Structure drawing
Both sides may look the same but they're not. We had purposely made one side longer, which ended up causing us to have to remake a wall.
Structure Drawing on paper
Structure Drawing on paper
Construct & Test Prototype
Grab 4 pieces of wood
Cut one piece of wood into a 12.5" inch beam
Cut another piece of wood into a 12.5" beam
Cut another piece of wood into a 12.5" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 12.5" piece
Pin down the other 12.5" piece of wood
Pin down one of the 12.5" pieces of wood
Pin down one of the 12.5" beam
Pin down the other 12.5" beam
Cut a piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Now pin down one of the 2.375" pieces
Pin down another 2.375" piece
Pin down another 2.375" piece
Pin down another 2.375" piece
Cut a piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
At this point we realised that using an exacto knife would be more efficient than using the wood cutter. Cut a piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece. Together, all your pieces should add up to 40.
Pin down the last 2.375" piece and then pin down a 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Now put down a piece of wood and place it vertically on the structure drawing
Cut off the excess wood
Cut the piece of wood into 5 2.375" pieces and then pin them down.
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 4 2.114" angled pieces
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down 5 2.114" angled pieces
From now on pin down the pieces in the opposite slots. Pin down 3 2.114" angled pieces
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece (2 at a time)
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece (2 at a time)
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece (2 at a time)
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece (2 at a time)
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece (2 at a time)
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece (2 at a time)
Pin down another 2.114" angled piece (2 at a time)
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner.
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner.
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner.
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner.
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner. (Front side completed)
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner.
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner.
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner.
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner.
Now glue the 4 2.114" angled pieces to the center of the 2.375" piece. Then glue the other side of the 4 2.114" angled pieces to its nearest corner. (Right side completed)
Next pin down the floor and glue it down to the top of both 12.5" beams
Next pin down the 2nd floor and glue it down to both 12.5" beams
Next pin down the 3rd floor and glue it down to both 12.5" beams
Next pin down the 4th floor and glue it down to both 12.5" beams
Next pin down the 5th floor and glue it down to both 12.5" beams
We would end up having to scrap the right wall, as when we tried to take it off the board, it broke down into pieces, as the glue had not curated yet.
Cut a piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the top floor at the right side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 2nd floor at the right side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 3rd floor at the right side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 4th floor at the right side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the bottom floor at the right side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the top floor at the left side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 2nd floor at the left side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 3rd floor at the left side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 4th floor at the left side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the bottom floor at the left side.
Cut a piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.114" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the top floor at the right side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the 2nd floor at the right side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the 3rd floor at the right side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the 4th floor at the right side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the bottom floor at the right side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the top floor at the left side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the 2nd floor at the left side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the 3rd floor at the left side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the 4th floor at the left side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece.
Now glue a 2.114" angled piece to the corner of the bottom floor at the left side and glue the other side of the 2.114" angled piece to the center of the 4.373" angled piece (no picture)
Now glue down a 12.5" beam (from the original right side of the structure) onto the back right corner
Cut a piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut a piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut a piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut a piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut a piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 2.375" piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373 angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373" angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373 angled piece
Cut another piece of wood into a 4.373 angled piece
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the top floor at the back side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 2nd floor at the back side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 3rd floor at the back side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 4th floor at the back side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 5th floor at the back side.
Now glue a 2.375" piece to the middle of the top floor at the back side.
Now glue a 2.375" piece to the middle of the 2nd floor at the back side.
Now glue a 2.375" piece to the middle of the 3rd floor at the back side.
Now glue a 2.375" piece to the middle of the 4th floor at the back side.
Now glue a 2.375" piece to the middle of the bottom floor at the back side. (No picture).
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the top floor at the back side, but make sure it's the corners you didn't use last time.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 2nd floor at the back side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 2nd floor at the back side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 2nd floor at the back side.
Now glue a 4.373" angled piece to the corners of the 2nd floor at the back side.
Now glue down the other 12.5" beam (from the original right side of the structure) onto the back left corner.
Baseplate
Woodplate
Add glue the bottom of the wood plate
Place the wood plate on the Baseplate
Glue the tower to the Baseplate
Completed structure (With weights attached)
Evaluate a Solution
Earthquake Vs. Our Structure
Earthquake Vs. Our Structure
Our group lasted for 28 seconds and 14.1 CPS (Cycle Rates Per Second)
Present a Solution
We chose this design because it was the best against side to side forces. The 4.373" angled pieces would be able to transfer the energy coming in from one side to the other. The 2.375" pieces were made to hold the tower up against the up and down forces. They were originally meant to be on perpendicular sides to act as shear walls, but they weren't thick enough so we put them on parallel sides. Then the 2.114" angled pieces were meant to support the 4.373" pieces to make sure they didn't break. Originally every side was supposed to have a completed x shape, but we were running low on time so 2 of the sides ended up missing a piece. This gave our structure an incomplete and broken look, which we didn't have the time to fix.
I would say that our structure was mostly unsuccessful. The people would have had nearly no time to escape. The majority of them would have gone down with the building with only a handful escaping in time. We started hearing pieces crack at around 7 CPS meaning that some pieces weren't glued together right. We were also unsuccessful in getting the base done in time, which led to the structure breaking sooner than it should've, as it had not been curated yet. We were successful in making sure that the structure was able to stay together until the base failed at 14 CPS, causing the whole tower to fall over. The main challenge we had while building our structure was having to scrap the right wall, which set us back by a lot. The glue had stuck to the structure drawing, so when we tried to get it off the structure drawing, some of the pieces stuck down to the glue. This caused it to break apart completely. Our main success was our tower lasting 28 seconds. This might seem unimpressive, but we had multiple obstacles that made it hard to get it done. These obstacles include me missing a week because I was sick, right side measurements being off, right side breaking apart and forgetting the base plate at school. All of these made it extremely difficult to finish our structure and the fact that we did better than three groups, although mediocre, is still an accomplishment in my eyes.
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