By ANTEDEG
Project Overview: The Challenge
○ To design and construct a freestanding lattice tower.
○ Key Constraints: Stability, strength, and lightweight construction.
○ Our goal was to apply core engineering principles to a practical
model.
By ANTEDEG
Measurements and Precision
○ Every component had to be measured with meticulous
care.
○ The slightest variation could compromise the entire
structure's stability.
○ This phase established the foundation for the entire build.
By ANTEDEG
Materials: The Building Blocks
○ Main Material: Wooden dowels for legs and braces.
○ Supporting Materials: Cardboard for the base, glues for joints.
○ The selection was based on accessibility, cost, and structural
properties.
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The Triangular Base
○ We chose a triangular base for its inherent stability.
○ It provides a wide support area to resist overturning forces.
○ The three legs were anchored firmly at each corner of the base
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Legs and Rings
○ Legs were cut from long wooden dowels.
○ Rings were constructed from the same material.
○ Each ring was sized to taper the tower as it rose.
By ANTEDEG
Adhesives: The Gluing Process
○ Fevicol SH for a strong, permanent bond.
○ Fevikwik for quick bonds to hold parts in place.
○ The right glue for the right job was critical.
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Joining the Dowels
○ Legs were joined to the rings using a
combination of glue and pressure.
○ This created a strong, rigid connection.
○ Care was taken to ensure perfect 90-degree
angles.
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Building the First Tier
○ The first ring was placed 100mm from the base.
○ It locked the three legs in a stable, triangular
formation.
○ This was the first major step to eliminating sway.
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The Tapering Design
○ Each subsequent ring was made
progressively smaller.
○ This tapering design reduces weight
at the top.
○ It also provides a more aesthetically
pleasing shape.
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Lattice Bracing: The Key to Strength
○ Diagonal dowels were added between
the rings.
○ This created a lattice pattern on the
tower's faces.
○ Lattices are a highly efficient
structural method.
By ANTEDEG
The Slant Bracing System
○ Longer slant braces were added from the base to the
first ring.
○ These braces are crucial for resisting lateral forces.
○ They act like buttresses, transferring sideways loads
to the ground.
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Finalizing the Structure
○ All joints were reinforced with extra glue.
○ Any loose pieces were secured to ensure
a perfect build.
○ This final check was crucial for the tower's
long-term durability.
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The Tower Apex
○ The top of the tower was capped with a
small ring.
○ The legs converged to a single point at the
top.
○ This completed the structural form of the
tower.
By ANTEDEG
Pre-Drilling to Prevent Splitting
○ We learned to pre-drill holes in the dowels.
○ This prevented the wood from splitting during
assembly.
○ It was a simple solution to a major problem.
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Final Assembly and Curing
○ The entire structure was left to cure overnight.
○ This allowed all the glues to reach maximum
strength.
○ The final result was a strong, single-unit structure.
By ANTEDEG
Identifying Instability
○ Our initial tests revealed a major flaw: The tower
wobbled.
○ The structure lacked the rigidity to resist lateral
forces.
○ This highlighted the need for significant design
changes.
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Lateral Force: The Enemy
○ Lateral forces are sideways forces like wind or a
push.
○ Without proper bracing, these forces can cause the
tower to buckle.
○ This was our primary design challenge.
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The H/B Ratio
○ The Height-to-Base ratio ($h/b$) is a key
stability metric.
○ A higher ratio means the tower is more prone to
overturning.
○ Our initial design had a high ratio, necessitating
the bracing.
By ANTEDEG
Mistake 1: Weak Joints
○ We initially used too little glue and did not
clamp the joints.
○ This resulted in loose, wobbly connections.
○ Solution: Re-glued and clamped every single
joint.
By ANTEDEG
Mistake 2: Uneven Leg Lengths
○ The legs were not perfectly identical
in length.
○ This caused the tower to lean and the
base to sit unevenly.
○ Solution: Used a precision cutting jig
to ensure all legs were the exact
same length.
By ANTEDEG
Mistake 3: Bracing in the
Wrong Places
○ Our first attempt at bracing was haphazard.
○ We added braces without a clear plan, which was
inefficient.
○ Solution: Followed engineering principles to place
braces strategically.
By ANTEDEG
Solution: The Power of Triangulation
○ We learned that triangles are the strongest
shape.
○ Every brace was added to form a series of
triangles.
○ This fundamental principle was our
ultimate solution.
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Final Structure Strength Analysis
○ The final tower was strong and rigid.
○ It easily resisted lateral forces and
twisting.
○ The bracing successfully distributed
stress away from weak points.
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Stress Points and Load Paths
○ We analyzed how forces traveled
through the tower.
○ The bracing redirects load to the
strongest parts of the structure.
○ This protects the joints from undue
stress.
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Load Testing the Final Product
○ The tower was tested with a 1kg load at the top.
○ The structure held firm without any
deformation.
○ This proved our design and construction were
successful.
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Final Structure: An Overview
○ The finished tower stands at 600mm tall.
○ Its design is both functional and aesthetically
pleasing.
○ It is a perfect model of a real-world lattice tower.
By ANTEDEG
The Final H/B Ratio
○ The added bracing effectively 'widened' the
base.
○ This improved the tower's stability-toheight ratio.
○ The tower's performance now exceeded our
initial expectations.
By ANTEDEG
Aesthetics and Design
○ The clean lines and simple geometry give it a
modern look.
○ The tapering design makes it feel lightweight and
tall.
○ The overall appearance is a reflection of the
precision involved.
By ANTEDEG
The Importance of Iteration
○ This project was a series of trial and error.
○ We learned that the first design is never the final
one.
○ Iteration and refinement are key to any
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Major Takeaways
○ Problem-solving is a core part of engineering.
○ Applying theory to practice is crucial for
learning.
○ Attention to detail makes all the difference.
By ANTEDEG
Project Timeline Recap
○ We moved from design to
construction and finally to testing.
○ Each phase had its own challenges
and successes.
○ This structured process was key to
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Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned
○ A summary of our key
mistakes.
○ Highlighting the lesson
learned from each one.
○ This shows how we grew as
engineers during the project.
By ANTEDEG
Future Improvements
○ Explore using lighter, stronger materials
like carbon fiber.
○ Increase the tower's height to test its
limits.
○ Experiment with different bracing patterns.
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Conclusion
○ The ANTEDEG Tower Project was a complete
success.
○ It stands as proof of our dedication to engineering
principles.
○ We successfully designed, built, and tested a stable
structure.
By ANTEDEG
Thank You
By ANTEDEG