Red Hawk Me, Myself, and I

Research Truss bridges are amongst a variety of bridge designs that are being used for road traffic. Amongst the modern bridges, truss bridges are considered to be included in the older kinds. The famous truss bridges are relatively inexpensive due to effective utilization of the bridge materials. The truss bridge designs are an important factor in architecture. Triangles are often used as trusses in bridges, or other support structures in buildings. They can easily be fit together to provide strength and stability over a wide area.

Research continued There are three main reasons that triangles are used to form trusses: their unique geometric properties, their method of transferring loads and their spatial openness. Rigidity A triangle has three sides and three angles, and each angle is held solidly in place by the side opposite it. This means that a triangle's angles are fixed, and that if pressure is placed anywhere on a triangle, its angles, unlike those of other shapes, will not change.

Research continued 2 Forces When a force is applied to a triangle, the resulting pressure is directed sideways rather than down. This means that sides of the triangle are in either compression or tension, and that there is thus no bending movement. Openness Since the center of a triangle does not contribute to its geometric rigidity or structural integrity, the center of a triangle can remain open. As one of the goals in erecting a truss is minimizing its weight, triangles are an appropriate shape to use.

Testing Virtual testing

Testing in West Point Bridge Design Add picture from West Point at Beginning of testing. Explain how you tested and your bridge and the modifications you made to improve its structural efficiency. Talk about increasing or decreasing the size of different pieces. Use specific piece numbers.

WestPoint continued Insert picture of table showing pieces and sizes.

Sketchup Add picture of print screen of Sketchup bridge. Explain how you used the table to increase and decrease the parts of your bridge in Sketchup.

Specifications Add picture of actual bridge. Add “Bridge Dimensions”

Physical Testing Describe what modifications you made after you tested your bridge. Include picture of broken bridge and include changes you made to fix it.

Conclusion: We decided to… We also… to increase structural efficiency. Then we … to increase strength of pieces ___, ___, and____. From our research we learned.

Links: http://www.brighthubengineering.com/structural-engineering/63635-truss-bridge-designs/ https://www.reference.com/math/triangles-strong-7ae25bf47214a972# https://www.quora.com/Why-do-trusses-have-only-a-triangle-member