Truss Design Challenge Experiment - Group 7

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Experiment Description For this experiment, lab students were required to design a truss or bridge that could span a specific distance and resist a 100 lb load in a four-point flexure test. All the requirements for the bridge are clearly outlined below: • Span length of 400 mm • Width of 75 mm • Maximum height of 75 mm • Maximum weight of 100 grams • Must hold 45 kg (100 lbs) • No adhesion (glue, etc.) for connections The challenge for students in this experiment was that their bridges had to be printed in separate parts because the bridges were too large to print all at once. Students had to design connections for these parts without using glue or other adhesives. The connection design was critical because it is the weakest point on their trusses. Information on Group 7's Bridge This is the design from Group 7 in the laboratory. Their truss design is commonly known as a Single Span I-Beam Bridge. This group has a unique beam design with a total of three parts. They designed the I-beams of this bridge to resist both vertical and lateral forces. The bridge had a total weight of 96 grams and resisted a load of 86 lbs. However, it failed due to overturning laterally during testing. The group recommended adding lateral braces in the center of the bridge to improve the design. Note: The handout for this experiment will be available soon. I will provide a link to the handout in this description when it is complete, so you can perform this experiment yourself or with your students.