Truss Project
In this project, my team and I had to create 2 trusses made of balsa wood (two models of each truss). we then had to test how much force our bridges could withstand using a machine that measured this. we then were able to calculate all of our forces and loads, and were able to understand why our trusses broke where they did.
Truss Failure points |
Note: all forces, loads, and dimensions will be shown for each truss on further pictures
LoggerPro Graph
we were never given our LoggerPro graphs.
Testing
|
|
Efficiency
Truss Calculations
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/1/8/39189403/6877212_orig.jpg)
Truss 1
Truss 2
Conclusion Questions
a. explain why you think failure occured at the truss member where it did. did your truss fail at the member that your calculations revealed as undergoing the most stress?
failure occured where it did on our truss primarily where the force was applied, and the direction in which the applied force was traveling. this was to be expected.
b.if given the chance to redesign your truss after testing, what changes would you make?
i would add more supports to where the most force was being applied and where the most stress was in the truss. this would help support these areas, and hopefully allow the truss to withstand more weight.
failure occured where it did on our truss primarily where the force was applied, and the direction in which the applied force was traveling. this was to be expected.
b.if given the chance to redesign your truss after testing, what changes would you make?
i would add more supports to where the most force was being applied and where the most stress was in the truss. this would help support these areas, and hopefully allow the truss to withstand more weight.