In the prior week's lab, we learned what the Method of Joints is. Through the Method of Joints we began to construct the tension and compression forces that appear on a given bridge with constraints as to the height, length, and load on the bridge. This analysis helps to show what angles create better triangles that can hold more weight.
In the coming week our team will begin to analysis the triangles and angles used in our Knex bridge, same with the member lengths. We hope to find that we can cut costs in certain areas, and increase the overall integrity of the Knex bridge.
The major accomplishment of the week for the team was successfully able to learn and understand the Method of Joints and apply it to the constraint given 2-dimensional bridges and a 2-dimensional version of our team's Knex bridge.
Issues that may arise in the up coming weeks include unable to find the right members or members combination that increase the strength of our bridge. It may be that our bridge is already built to its full potential and nothing else can be done. It may also be hard to decipher our analysis of our Knex bridge using the method of joints.
The Method of Joints is not a sufficient form of analysis because it does not account for multiple loads on the bridge in areas other than the middle of the structure. It also does not account for horizontal forces such as wind and rain, which can add to the forces acting on the bridge. It would be a sufficient form of analysis if outside factors and change in the loads could be accounted for. To further analysis the bridge, tension and compression strengths of each member will need to be known to know what their breaking point is. What may help assist in this analysis is a more advanced program than WPBD, but one that measures the same information.
By Robert Weldon
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