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Introduction

The project shown on the website regards the balsa wood bridge. This project was chosen due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, which has severely limited the access to resources. However, this project should still be able to demonstrate engineering proficiency and that it can be done in the safety of home. The project will take over a course of about nine months, and covers the entire design and construction of the balsa wood bridge. When the project undergoes testing, the bridge should be able to articulate its road deck and to be able to hold a large load at its center without collapsing.

Abstract

The project requires the individual to design and construct a truss bridge made from balsa wood and wood glue to perform several objectives. The main objectives are to articulate the bridge by raising it, to conform to dimensional requirements, to allow a vehicle to travel along the road deck, and to hold a minimum load. The bridge must be able to articulate in two different ways. First, the articulation system can lift the road deck vertically while on top of the bridge. Second, raise the bridge with a pivot when the articulation system is placed at the specified end of the bridge. The bridge was able to raise the road deck to the required 280 mm height and allowed a sheet of paper to slide between the abutment and bridge using the pivot, holding it for ten seconds. The bridge without the articulation system weighed less than 85 grams when measured with a digital scale. The vehicle represented by a block pulled with a string can travel across the road deck without obstructions. The bridge was then tested for loading by adding weights to the inserted rod; however, the bridge couldn’t reach the 20 kg load before it began to fail.

Bridge Sketch (Design #4)

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Bridge Assembly Drawings (Revision A) (Design #4)

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Project Presentation Videos

Note: Original Presentation Video had to be split into two separate clips.

Project Report

Click the document icon to download.

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