Define the Problem
In this project we will be building and evaluating the efficiency of trusses that are given to us as well as designing our own. Our goals are to practice solving and building trusses in the real world, to practice using MD Solids, and finally to build our own truss to hold the most weight.
Generate Concepts
key: 1-5, 5 being the best
Static determinacy is calculated by using the formula 2J = M + R. My first truss design was statically determinate but then I realized that the base had to be 10 inches long, so I had to change my design. DeShawn and Joseph had trouble with making their trusses to be statically determinate. Originally, they had used a lot of joints, but they ended up having to get rid of some to make their designs work. We decided on using 50 N for our designs in MD Solids because the truss that Dylan and Brooke built was able to withstand 46.36 N and we guessed that ours should be at least a bit better than theirs.
Develop the Solution
Our truss:
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Second team's truss:
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Construct and Test the Prototype
Evaluate Solution
This is how we calculated the efficiency of the trusses.
Present
Joseph is gluing on the gussets.
Silas is gluing together the balsa wood for the final truss design.
Conclusion
I think our truss failed where it did due to the placement of the weight and the fact that we didn't glue it perfectly. It would be ideal to place the weight in the exact middle of the truss, but it would also be ideal to have more time to make more exact measurements and cuts of the wood. Our truss failed in a variety of places, but mostly on the top member. It was projected to break in the middle of the bottom member. If we could do this again, I would make a truss with 5 triangles rather than 10. My original idea consisted of 5 triangles but it was too small. If I had more time or if we didn't have to build it on MD Solids, then I would have made one like this. It would be lighter and it would have a smaller amount of members and joints to break at.