Truss Design
In this project we were given two truss designs and we had to use balsa wood to make four trusses (two of each design). After we made those trusses we had to design and make our own truss. After all five trusses were built we broke one of each of the given trusses and our own truss. We took measurements while breaking the trusses such as force applied and point of failure to allow us to calculate different things such as tension and compression in members and reaction forces.
Truss 1
Truss 2
Truss 3 (Groups design)
For this truss we had to design our own truss that could with stand the most force. We were only able to use one piece (36 in) of balsa wood, we had limited time to design and build and the base had to be between 3 and 9 inches
Our truss failed at the points that it did because of the way the force caused our truss to bend. The truss didnt fail at the points under the most stress.
If we could redesign out truss I would make the smallest members in the truss go straight up and down because I think that would support more stress.
If we could redesign out truss I would make the smallest members in the truss go straight up and down because I think that would support more stress.