In this project, we were tasked to build two trusses and analyze them. We first built our trusses with balsa wood and super glue. We then tested their strength and used the results (and theoretical calculations) to determine if the trusses were statically determinate.
sketch of truss 1
sketch of truss 2
graph from loggerpro
video of testing
efficiency evaluation
truss calculations for truss 1
truss calculations for truss 2
conclusion questions
1. Explain why you think failure occurred at the truss member where it did. Did your truss fail at the member that your calculations revealed as undergoing the most stress?
Based on our calculations, the failures occurred at the truss members where the most stress fell. Are calculations were accurate in regards to where the stress was greatest. The truss member where the failure occurred was because the most stress was put on that member. This happened in both trusses.
2. If given a chance to redesign your truss after testing, what changes would you make?
If given another chance to redesign the trusses, I would use stronger materials to build them. I would make sure that the wood was stronger and thicker. I would have liked for the glue that bonded the trusses to have more time to set and I would also have liked to use a stronger glue than what we had.
Based on our calculations, the failures occurred at the truss members where the most stress fell. Are calculations were accurate in regards to where the stress was greatest. The truss member where the failure occurred was because the most stress was put on that member. This happened in both trusses.
2. If given a chance to redesign your truss after testing, what changes would you make?
If given another chance to redesign the trusses, I would use stronger materials to build them. I would make sure that the wood was stronger and thicker. I would have liked for the glue that bonded the trusses to have more time to set and I would also have liked to use a stronger glue than what we had.