Truss Design Challenge Experiment - Group 6

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Experiment Description For this experiment, students in the lab were tasked with designing a truss or bridge that could span a specific distance and withstand a 100 lb load in a four-point flexure test. All requirements for the bridge are outlined below: • Span length: 400 mm • Width: 75 mm • Maximum height: 75 mm • Maximum weight: 100 grams • Must hold 45 kg (100 lbs) • No adhesives, such as glue or other chemicals, may be used 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 adhesives, and the connection design was critical since it is typically the weakest point on a truss. Information on Group 6's Bridge This is the design from Group 6 in the laboratory, which features a Warren Truss. This group kept their design simple by limiting it to two parts, allowing for rapid prototyping and testing. To determine the exact thickness needed to resist the 100 lb load, they ran multiple tests with varying member thicknesses. The bridge had a total weight of 102 grams and resisted a load of 99 lbs before failing due to lateral overturning. The group recommended using cross bracing instead of straight lateral braces to improve their truss design. Note The handout for this experiment will be available soon, and I will provide a link to it in this description when it is complete, allowing you to perform this experiment yourself or with your students.