Description: During this project, the students learned how to follow the design

process in order to construct a truss bridge that has the maximum possible
efficiency by using a limited amount of supplies. The participants in the project were
instructed research and develop separate diagrams of their ideal bridge structure
and compare them to each others using a decision matrix. The truss design that
was selected by the group via decision matrix would be constructed using a
maximum of 36 inches of balsa wood and tested using a Structural Stress
Analyzer(SSA). In order to fit in between the glass panels used in the stress
analyzer, each truss had to have a minimum span of 6 7/8 inches and a maximum
height of 4 5/8 inches.

Design Process: Before we started the planning process, our group developed
group norms or rules that each member must approve and abide by throughout the
duration of the project. Then, each person was instructed to research efficient truss
bridges and use the internet to help them gain information and ultimately make
contributions to the final group structure. Next, we all shared our sources with each
other and drew our design drafts in our notebooks. The group then came together
to discuss our thoughts on each others designs and used a decision matrix to
choose which one we would use. We then began the construction part of the project,

first the group cut each member out of the balsa wood and put them together
(without glue) to ensure that the they were correctly cut and we were not missing
any parts. Then I carefully used the glue gun to carefully apply glue to the edge of
the members and assemble them as shown in our sketches. Next using the
assembled truss, I drew gussets that match truss, cut them, and glued them onto
the structure.
Problems and Solutions: During this project, our group encountered several
problems that delayed our design process. When we were cutting the supports, our
group was using a dull knife which led to several awful cuts and the group having to
start over on a piece of spare balsa wood and use a sharper knife. As we advanced
further through the construction process, we reached a point where attempt after
attempt we could not manage to cut the diagonal supports to the right angle/length.
This was a major setback in our building process, and it caused us to rush due to
the large amount of time it took away from us being able to modify other parts of
the structure. To fix this problem we used a purposely-large piece of balsa wood and
slowly cut small pieces off at a time until the piece fit perfectly. Last, when were
testing the trust a major problem occurred. Our group did not pay much attention to
how we mounted the truss between the glass panels that held it in the Structural
Stress Analyzer, and that flaw caused our truss to break a lot earlier than expected.
We placed our truss in upside down in the SSA which made the nodes put pressure
in a lot more places on the truss than the original alignment did.
Summary: Due to the fact that our group did not place the truss in the correct
position in the SSA, more pressure was exerted to the most vulnerable places on the
truss, next to the gussets. This proved to be pivotal and caused the well built truss
to just fall apart. Although it did not do as well as I hoped, it still held 21 lbs. and
had a 8,400% efficiency and met the requirements of holding more weight than the
previous test truss (19 lbs.). During the whole process of producing this truss,
everyone in my group did their jobs and followed the group norms without having
and disagreements. Jimmy performed his job of cutting the wood although there
was a problem with one of the knives we used to cut he executed the cuts as good
as possible. Another member in the group, Joe, helped sand the woods after Jimmy
cut it and also helped press the wood down after it was glued which helped make
the construction process go a lot faster and more efficiently. Last but not least,
Zareefs role was to measure and mark the wood but not only did he do that with
such precision, he helped do almost everything else during this project. He acted as
a leader in the group and when we started to get off task he would direct us back on
course in order to meet the criteria and get the construction done within the time
constraint.