Bridge Engineering Design
THIS NOTEBOOK BELONGS TO:
____________________
Assignment #
1
2
3
Due
Date
Check List
Pages
Background
Information
Brainstorming for
Solutions
Initial Drawing
11” X 17” Drafting
Paper
4
Final Design Plan
5
Bridge Building
Completed
See Testing
Procedure in
Specs and Regs
7
Copy of Plan,
Cardboard,
Wax Paper, Lumber,
Cutting Tools, Pins &
Glue
Const. Day
___
___Under
___ On
Budget
___ Over
Approved Budget
Testing and Analysis
8
Receive
3-7
11” X 17”
Drafting Paper
6
Stamp
See
construction
tips in Specs and
Regs
- Complete Analysis and
Reflection
- Complete Project
Presentation Outline
Notes
Permission to Sign Up
to Test Bridge
Bridge Efficiency Sheet
Project Board Materials
1
TO DO LIST for each stamp
1. Complete the Background Information pages in the packet.
2. Work with your partner to brainstorm ideas and sketch a draft in your notebook on the
“Brainstorming For Solutions” page. List the Criteria, Constraints and Materials.
3. Complete Initial Drawing with total length of lumber needed. Your initial drawing must
have
_____Guidelines
_____Side view
_____Top View
_____ Roadbed View ____ End View
a. Check in with the inspector to receive Final Design Plan and drafting materials.
4. Complete your Final Design Plan, make sure to work through the following check list:
a. Guidelines, Side View, Top view (includes top span and roadbed pieces), End View
b. Check for inspection
Inspector initial here______
c. Add measurements to sketch
d. Add up measurements
Side View = ________ x 2
=
______ cm
End View= _________x2
=
______ cm
Top/Roadbed View = ______ =
______ cm
Total
______ cm
=
e.
f.
g.
h.
Draw Testing Block on center of roadbed on all views.
Add Force Arrows to the Side View.
Label joints (Lap, End, Notch and a MAXIMUM OF FOUR GUSSETS)
A consulting fee of $5,000 will be charged for errors on the Final Design Plan that
are brought to your attention by the inspector.
i. Have the inspector approve your Bridge Budget and Final Design Plan to receive
tools to begin building. (This is your second Drawing Inspection. A copy of your
plan will be made.)
j. Begin construction! Tape wax paper over a photocopy of your plan on top of a
piece of cardboard. Cut each wood piece to exact length according to your design.
Pay attention to the joint type before cutting.
k. Continue construction by gluing your bridge together. Each person must build a
truss!
l. Test your trusses for weak spots as you go. Note changes on the original Final
Design Plan.
5. Complete your construction and show your bridge to the inspector who will check for
environmental hazards.
6. Submit your completed budget for inspector’s approval. Once approved, sign up for
testing.
7. Test your bridge. Check the construction specifications and regulations guide for testing
procedures.
2
8. Complete Project Analysis and Reflection questions along with the Project Presentation
Outline Notes for final stamp.
Background Information
BRIDGES—FORCES--CONSTRUCTION
Research Links. Continue your research by clicking the links as you go
through this packet. http://www.perrinhall.com/projects/bridges/how_bridges_work.html
1. Sketch a picture of the following types of bridges AND draw arrows showing how the force is
dissipated (spread out.) You will need to click on each bridge on the upper right side of the page
and all tabs for each of the three bridges. Be sure to play the animation for each as well!
Beam Bridge
Downward Force
Upward Force
Arch Bridge
Downward Force
Upward Force
Suspension Bridge
Downward Force
Upward Force
Click on the second link of the research page. This will take you through the forces,
materials, loads and shapes sections. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/
2. Click on the FORCES LAB Go through the different types of forces and move the slider to
see how they work. Be sure to click “See it in real life” to see evidence of each!
Name
Illustration
Description
3
Squeezing (Compression)
Stretching (Tension)
Bending
Sliding (Shear)
Twisting (Torsion)
3. Click on LOADS.
Choose WEIGHT OF OBJECTS, TEMPERATURE, and WIND. Draw a picture and summarize
how you can strengthen your structure in each situation. Click on “Try it” for each.
Weight of Object:
Temperature:
Wind:
Picture:
Picture:
Picture:
4. Click on MATERIALS.
Since we will be using basswood, click on WOOD for material type. Drag the slider each way to
figure out the strengths and weaknesses of using wood as a structure material.
Properties
Pros-Cons
Applications
4
5. Click on SHAPES.
Slide the slider up to the “1”. Draw each shape with the force arrows. Keep sliding the slider up.
Circle the strongest shape.
Go back to the Research Page and click on the sixth link of the research page,
http://pghbridges.com/basics.htm. This will take you through Truss designs. Scroll down
the page until you find the information about Pratt Trusses (after arch designs). 6. Draw
four of the truss designs. You must choose the last design from the website.
Pratt
Howe
Warren
Click on the next link of the research page, http://ojhsbridges.weebly.com/trussbridges.html
7. Draw a truss and label the members with a “C” for Compression, “T” for Tension and “NL”
for No Load. (You could also use color to show each type of force.)
What is the purpose of a truss?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Click on the next link of the research page,
http://www.garrettsbridges.com/building/bridge-joints/
5
8. Draw the different types of bridge joints. Explain when the joint is strong and when it is weak
with different forces.
Name
Illustration
Notes on when to use, and when not to use, each
type of joint.
Lap
End
Notched
Gusset
Double
Gusset
Click on the next link of the research page, http://www.preengineering.com/resources/lateral.htm
9. Draw three different ways to support the portal frames.
6
Lateral support is necessary for what type of loads?
“___________________________________________
Explain “Drift” of a portal?________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Go to the PBS website “Building Big”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/index.html
10. Choose two bridges from the list of bridges on the lower left corner of the “Building Big”
website and describe the bridge type, interesting facts, and ideas you might transfer to your
bridge.
1. Bridge Name____________________________ Bridge Type__________________________
Interesting Facts
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Ideas for your design_____________________________________________________________
2. Bridge Name____________________________ Bridge Type__________________________
Interesting Facts
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Ideas for your design____________________________________________________________
Click on the last link on the research page, http://www.most.org/bridges/instructions.cfm
11. Bridge Efficiency
Read through “Instructions for Building Your Bridge” part A – Bridge Contest Summary.
http://www.most.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/BridgesRules.pdf
What is the formula for calculating efficiency of your bridge?
An efficient bridge is one that can hold a lot of weight, but does not weigh a lot. When you build
your bridge this means you want to build a strong bridge that does not weigh a lot. Explain why.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________
LOOK THROUGH the construction specifications and regulations guide then answer the bridges
scavenger hunt questions.
Bridges scavenger hunt
1. The bridge needs to be ______to______long, ______ to ______in height and ______to
______ wide.
7
2. The testing block that needs to be placed inside the bridge is
__________x________x________. The roadbed needs to allow an _______________ to to
go through the center of the block.
3. The bridge must hold a minimum of _________to be proficient, or _________ to be highly
proficient.
4. The budget for this project is $______________________.
5. An inspection of the Final Design Plan needs to be completed at least ______________
times at a cost of $_______________ each.
6. Every time we need help from the teacher/inspector, the charge is $_____________ for a
consulting fee.
7. If I lose my Final Design Plan paper, it costs $________________ to get another one.
8. I can use a maximum number of _____ gussets with a length of no more than ______ cm.
9. If my team is adding to an environmental hazard in the learning atmosphere of the
classroom, we will be fined $__________for each infraction and may be ____________ from
the project.
10. The bridge must be _______________scale. Meaning, your Final Design Plan size and
your bridge size will ______________________________
8
BRAINSTORMING FOR SOLUTIONS- PROTOTYPE
Constraints–(Limitations to process)
Side View
Top View
End View
Roadbed View
Materials for Prototype
9
10
INITIAL DRAWING
DRAWING MUST INCLUDE GUIDELINES WITH SIDE, TOP, ROADBED, AND END VIEWS.
DRAWING MUST BE TO THE SCALE OF 1 BOX=1 CENTIMETER. DRAWING MUST INCLUDE
MEASUREMENTS AND TOTAL LUMBER NEEDED.
VIEW
MEASUREMENTS
11
SIDE
X
2
______
TOP
12
______
ROADBED
______
END
X2
______
TOTAL LUMBER
13
______
PROJECT ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
Use the following outline to help you organize your writing for your final description of the
bridge. Each topic is a section of your rubric. Each section needs to be a full 5-sentence
paragraph.
1. Introduction
A brief description of the project – What were you planning to make and what did you end up
making?)
________________________________________________________________________________
14
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Brainstorming Ideas
Describe any and all design ideas your group came up with for the project.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Engineering and Design
Describe your group’s bridge design and how you built it.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. Testing and Analysis
Describe how testing went for you?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Where did your bridge break? Was it on the truss, roadbed, joints, member, etc? Why do you think
it broke where it did?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
15
5. Analysis
List four improvements for this bridge and explain why necessary.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Imagine if your design failed, explain two ways a flawed design would affect the community.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
If you didn’t finish, or it didn’t turn out the way you wanted, what reasons do you have for your
outcome?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
How would you design the project differently if you could do it again? Be specific about the
design! How could your make your design less expensive?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
PROFICIENCY RUBRIC
PROJECT BOARD SCORING GUIDE
Poster Elements
1. Name of Bridge
2. Project Management Team Names
3. Initial Design
16
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Final Design Plan with Force Arrows and Signature
Budget with Signature
5 Reasons Explaining How You Designed Your Bridge to be Strong and Sturdy
Bridge Efficiency Calculation
Picture of your bridge on the I-5 site.
Team
Poster
HP 8-7
All 8 elements
included.
PRO 6-5
All main elements
included, but some
small elements
may be missing
(i.e., force arrows
may be incorrect).
NP 4-3
Missing one or
more main
elements.
Final Design Plan
includes
guidelines; side
and top/roadbed
and end views
lined up.
Final Design Plan
includes
guidelines; side
and top/roadbed
and end views
lined up.
Final Design Plan
may not include
guidelines; side
and top/roadbed
and end views
may not line up.
Layout is neat and
organized.
Layout is
organized.
Layout is
somewhat
disorganized.
Strong
understanding of
engineering
concepts used in
explanation of
design.
Engineering
concepts used in
explanation of
design.
Engineering
concepts used
incorrectly.
DEV 2-1
Project Board
Incomplete and/or
disorganized.
Engineering
concepts used
incorrectly and/or
missing.
PROJECT PRESENTATION OUTLINE NOTES
Work with your partner to figure out how you are going to discuss
the following items in your speech:
1. Project Management Team Names:
17
2. Name of Bridge:
3. Initial Drawing – Explain how you started and how/why you changed your design
along the way.
4. Final Design Plan with Force Arrows – Explain your sketch, how it changed, and how
your forces work.
5. Budget – Explain your budget and how it has changed. Why were you under, over or
on budget for the project?
6. 5 Reasons explaining how you designed your bridge to be strong and sturdy – Be
detailed and share the science behind the responses.
7. Where did your bridge break? Why was that the weak spot?
8. How would you change your design to make your bridge stronger or more efficient?
9. Why should your design be chosen to replace the I-5 Bridge?
18
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BRIDGE BUDGET
CONTRACTOR MATERIALS LIST AND PRICING SHEET
On the material data sheet list out each separate length of wood that needs to be cut. Identify
the number of each length that is needed. Extend the quantity times the price per item to
calculate a total price per item. Total the material sheet to get a total cost of your bridge
construction.
Materials
Land
Price per item
$23,500,000
19
Quantity
needed
1
Total Cost
$23,500,000
Lumber (wooden sticks)
$320,000
Welding Material (glue)
$75,000
Final Design Plan Paper
$80,000
Final Design Plan Inspection
$50,000
2 3
$110,000
1
Permitting
Building Consultant Fee
Assist)
1
$110,000
(Teacher
Construction Labor (per day)
$5,000
0 1 2 3 4
$400,000
Final Durability Test
$85,000
1
Environmental Fines
$5,000
0 1 2 3 4
Final Design Purchase
$75,000
$1,000,000
Total Construction Costs
Inspector Signature: _____________________ Date: ______
Tray #__________
20
0 1
$85,000