Driving Questions
Why is it important for civil engineers to calculate reaction forces and member forces in a truss system?
Why is it important for civil engineers to create accurate and detailed documentation of truss designs and test results?
How do civil engineers test truss efficiency?
How is the step-by-step process of calculating reaction forces and member forces important in a truss system?
How do civil engineers evaluate the efficiency of one truss design versus another?
Project Description
First, we built a truss using wood glue, knives, and long wood sticks. The dimensions were modeled after a truss shown to us on paper.
To determine how strong the truss was, we used the Structural Stress Analyzer machine. I placed my truss inside a frame and then placed the frame inside the SSA. This is what the setup looked like:
I started the machine and the SSA started applying force to the truss.
The efficiency of my truss was around 450%.
What I Learned
I learned how to use the SSA in order to determine the force an object can hold, and how to calculate truss efficiency. The truss efficiency formula is (Force/Weight)*100%. The higher the truss efficiency, the more structurally stable the truss is. Dimensions of the truss and extra parts also play a role in the truss efficiency.