Build a bridge with a high “weight to weight held” ratio
Max, Leah, and Alice
Background:
During this project, we used the domains of communicating
within a scientific framework by using APA formatting, and
developing and using models like our schematic designs. Our
research of the A truss1 inspired our design because the
triangle is a very strong shape. The internal supports were
inspired by the Warren truss5 with verticals.
Research objective:
When designing our bridge, we were trying to use somewhat
minimal material and still have a very strong structure, so that our
bridge could hold a good amount of weight and still have a good
strength to weight ratio.
Materials:
Balsa wood, wood glue, Exacto Knife
Our Original Design (Figures 1 and 2)
Figure 1: Design view
This shows the top, front, and side view of what
we planned our bridge to look like with
measurements, including possible angles. We
use the triangle to press against itself as the
weight pulls down on the supports hanging from
the triangle. The lattice on the bottom is to
distribute the weight to either end.
Figure 1: 3D Bridge Design
This is a 3D version of our bridge design.
Washington Latin Public Charter School
5200 2nd St NW, Washington, DC 20011
Our Design Process Conclusion:
● Our bridge was not able to reach a ratio of holding as
much weight as it weighed, so we didn’t reach our
Figure 3: Sides Figure 4: Basic Bridge objective.
Figure 5: Final Product
● Our design was very strong but it used a lot of wood
and would have been very heavy. To limit this, we took
out some of the smaller vertical and horizontal cross
beams as well as diagonals between the two sides as
see from the “front view.” These diagonals were meant
to prevent the two sides from simultaneously
collapsing to the side.
● When we built our bridge we changed the design,
including taking away some horizontal pieces that
We connected the sides, forming our connected the two sides. That proved to be a mistake,
bridge! letting the bridge twist and fall, so our execution wasn’t
This shows the the as good.
frames of the sides, with ● Our original design changed in several ways as we
some of the supports built. We took out many of the side supports to make it
added. lighter, and then changed the base from a lattice to just
an X. We also took out some pieces that connected
We added more supports, the two sides above the base.
connectors, and glue, and ● Our bridge did not do as well as we expected, but it
got our final bridge. still succeeded. It got a ratio of 0.97 which was 3rd
place out of 14 in the grade, but it would have done
better if we had diagonal supports between the two
Data: sides since it wouldn’t have collapsed as soon.
Figure 6: Data Table
Acknowledgements/References:
1. amnbph. (2020, June 23). Part of the railroad truss bridge across river
[Photograph]. iStock.
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/part-of-the-railroad-truss-bridge-acr
This table shows the data of our bridge.
oss-river-kyiv-ukraine-gm1251267987-365108834
2. Law, J. (2017, April 24). What is a simple truss? Sciencing.com.
Retrieved February 15, 2022, from
Figure 7: How it Broke
https://sciencing.com/simple-truss-10018330.html
3. North Carolina Department of Transportation, NCDOT. (2020, July 16).
Truss bridge. North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved
February 15, 2022, from
https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/bridges/histori
c-bridges/bridge-types/Pages/truss.aspx
4. StructurePlanet (Producer). (2020). Making a Popsicle Bridge & Testing
It! [Video]. Youtube.com.
This shows the bridge tilting to one
side, right before it broke. It fell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlwBmrf6240
because its two sides twisted and 5. Weebly. (n.d.). How bridges work [Illustration]. Weebly.
broke apart. https://howbridgeswork.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/6/3/13630779/1830880
_orig.jpg