Table Of Content
Popsicle stick bridges are not just a fun and simple DIY project but they have several applications in various fields. These bridges made with basic materials can be used for educational purposes and even for construction design projects. When designing your unbreakable arch Popsicle stick bridge, you have to consider three major factors; weight, length, and width. Each of these factors will determine the design of the bridge truss, which is essential for creating a stable bridge. The three popular designs include Pratt truss, Warren truss, and Howe truss. A Pratt truss is popular for long bridges, while a Warren truss is suitable for medium-length bridges.
How to build a truss bridge with only Popsicle sticks and glue
Create an unbreakable arch bridge with popsicle sticks with this simple yet impressive project. Another popular bridge design for popsicle sticks is the beam bridge design. Beam bridges consist of a series of horizontal beams that span across two or more supports.
Build-A-Tool Contest
Then cut one stick in half to make smaller pieces for the two ends of the bridge. Which is how much force half of the bottom popsicle stick is holding. No matter how strong the theoretical design of the bridge is, and no matter how strong the individual sticks and cables are, they will be nothing if the connections fail prematurely. Gluing sticks together on their face is fine, but I suggest taking it the extra mile and drilling the sticks and creating tiny doweled connections.
Fun Facts about the Roman Republic to Print and Learn
Light and strong, it can hold more than 100 pounds. I added 5 vertical beams equidistant from one another (about where the vertical beams are in the side supports). I added about 5 sticks to the base of the bridge by applying hot glue to the tip of each of the sticks and placing one of my sides at a 90-degree angle on the glue. Then, I added glue to the other end of the bottom sticks and placed the other side piece at a 90-degree angle.
Step 1: Design Your Bridge.
There are a lot of calculations that go into figuring out if each piece of the truss is under compression or tension. We need to create one more side for the bridge, so repeat Steps 3-5 to build an identical side piece. All of the angled supports are going to angle in toward the center bottom. Add stick 12 (green), in between red and yellow sticks as pictured. It should be on top of the yellow stick and under the red stick.
The connection where the main cable ties meet the top cord of the bridge at the two bridge ends is the most important connection on the structure. If this fails prematurely, the entire structure is doomed. I suggest building a mockup and testing this connection in several iterations to make sure it is very strong.
Jewish day school students build bridges out of popsicle sticks and wire - The Canadian Jewish News
Jewish day school students build bridges out of popsicle sticks and wire.
Posted: Thu, 16 Mar 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The beams of the truss work together, either under tension or compression, to hold significant amounts of weight. The other three-stick beams are to be used as the bottom base of the bridge. Lay them parallel to each other and glue sticks going across the bottom connecting them. This would be the road that the car would drive over if it were a really bridge.
A truss bridge takes the weight of whatever is passing over it and transfers it to the piers. What makes a truss different is the efficient way it carries the load using geometry in its favor. Trusses are used for transferring loads from where you don’t want them to where you do. First, we are going to create the two sides of the truss bridge. The Pratt truss bridge has a specific design to it, which you can see in the drawing I made of it.
Popsicle Stick Bridge Tips
This configuration combines strength with resourcefulness of materials and can therefore be generally light and efficient. Popsicle sticks were measured using calipers to determine the width the guides needed to be. A small squared test U was printed with this width to make sure the dimensions allowed a popsicle stick to fit with some room. Truss member angles and the width dimension were then used to create guides for every connection. The joint guides were made specifically to be able to work with any of the joint connections regardless of if there was a vertical or diagonal missing. The side supports also had to be designed to hold at least five stacked popsicle sticks and have cut outs so that the glue would be less likely to stick to the them.
Attach a string to both ends of the bridge and slowly add weight to the center of the bridge. Start with a lightweight item and gradually increase the weight until the bridge reaches its maximum capacity. Record the weight at which the bridge collapses. This super-fun popsicle stick bridge engineering challenge will help enhance your kiddo’s engineering skills no matter their age. This STEM activity only requires craft sticks and play dough. Kids can build a bridge to get acquainted with basic physical forces like tension and compression, plus they’re an excellent idea for science projects and fairs.
The unique design of the truss allows for weight to be distributed in such a way that it can hold a significant amount of weight. The simplest truss bridges are the Howe, the Pratt, and the Warren, named for the engineers who devised them. Structural engineering doesn’t get much simpler. The Warren truss is tried and true, providing a bridge that’s easy to build, strong, and relatively lightweight.
These are the materials that you will need. Something to clamp the popsicle sticks together, like a clothespin. I wouldn't recommend hot glue because it will flex and twist with pressure. Old newspaper will be necessary to put underneath your bridge while drying in case any glue drips. It’s time to test the strength of your arch popsicle stick bridge!
No comments:
Post a Comment