Truss Tower Design Documentation
Problem
Create a tower that can withstand at least 50 pounds of force and is at minimum 2" by 2" by 2", but at maximum 4" by 4" by 5".
Generate Ideas
Idea 1:
-The top and bottom of the tower will be created with 4" by 4" balsa wood squares with X bracing
-The sides will be created from 4" by 5" balsa wood rectangles that are divided up into 5 little rectangles, each small rectangle has an X brace
Idea 2:
-The top and bottom of the tower will be created with a 4" by 4" balsa wood square that has a diamond structure in it for support
-The sides will be created from 4" by 4" balsa wood rectangles split up into 4 small rectangles, each small rectangle will have an X brace
Idea 3:
-Create 4" by 4" balsa wood rectangles with diamond structures in the middle for support
-Stack the balsa wood rectangles on top of each other until it is 4 inches tall
Constraints
-Must be at minimum 2" by 2" by 2" and at maximum 4" by 4" by 5"
-Must fit in storage bin provided
-Must only be created from balsa wood and elmers glue
-Must be able to fit a metal rod through the middle of the structure
-Must be able to withstand at least 50 pounds of force
Criteria
-How much force can the truss tower withstand?
-How efficient is the truss tower?
-How much does the truss tower weigh?
-How simple is the truss tower's design?
-How much material does the truss tower use?
Research
-We searched for other balsa wood towers created and how much force they were able to withstand with the support that they had
-We searched up structural support methods for towers, from this we found that adding X braces to the structures throughout helps the structure even out force instead of having one point of the structure withstand all force
Possible Solutions
Idea 1: Idea 1 works by taking the force and putting it onto the sides of the structure, the sides of the structure then withstand the force through the rectangles in each side. The rectangles in each side help support the sides through the X braces embedded in them. The top and bottom of the structure withstand force through X braces inside of them that even out the force.
Idea 2: Idea 2 works by taking the force and from the top and sending it to the sides of the structure where small rectangles with X bracing will support the sides, helping withstand the force. However the top and bottom of the structure will withstand force through diamond bracing that will keep the structure from bending and caving in.
Idea 3: Idea 3 works by taking the force and putting it directly onto the sides of the structure. The sides of the structure will withstand force by compressing and taking more and more force. It will do this because the sides of the structure are made out of balsa wood stacked on top of each other. X bracing will be built inside of the structure to help the structure withstand force and keep it from caving in on itself.
Summary
We chose Idea 2 as our solution to the problem because it is lightweight as it uses the least amount of material out of all of the ideas. Because it is lightweight and used the least amount of material that also makes it the most efficient. We also predict that Idea 2 will withstand the most amount of force as it has the most bracing built into it in order to help withstand force. Idea 2 is also easy to replicate as the structure is made out of simple shapes such as squares and rectangles. All of these reasons make Idea 2 the best idea as it meets all of the criteria needed to make the best solution to the problem.
Idea Matrix
Create a tower that can withstand at least 50 pounds of force and is at minimum 2" by 2" by 2", but at maximum 4" by 4" by 5".
Generate Ideas
Idea 1:
-The top and bottom of the tower will be created with 4" by 4" balsa wood squares with X bracing
-The sides will be created from 4" by 5" balsa wood rectangles that are divided up into 5 little rectangles, each small rectangle has an X brace
Idea 2:
-The top and bottom of the tower will be created with a 4" by 4" balsa wood square that has a diamond structure in it for support
-The sides will be created from 4" by 4" balsa wood rectangles split up into 4 small rectangles, each small rectangle will have an X brace
Idea 3:
-Create 4" by 4" balsa wood rectangles with diamond structures in the middle for support
-Stack the balsa wood rectangles on top of each other until it is 4 inches tall
Constraints
-Must be at minimum 2" by 2" by 2" and at maximum 4" by 4" by 5"
-Must fit in storage bin provided
-Must only be created from balsa wood and elmers glue
-Must be able to fit a metal rod through the middle of the structure
-Must be able to withstand at least 50 pounds of force
Criteria
-How much force can the truss tower withstand?
-How efficient is the truss tower?
-How much does the truss tower weigh?
-How simple is the truss tower's design?
-How much material does the truss tower use?
Research
-We searched for other balsa wood towers created and how much force they were able to withstand with the support that they had
-We searched up structural support methods for towers, from this we found that adding X braces to the structures throughout helps the structure even out force instead of having one point of the structure withstand all force
Possible Solutions
Idea 1: Idea 1 works by taking the force and putting it onto the sides of the structure, the sides of the structure then withstand the force through the rectangles in each side. The rectangles in each side help support the sides through the X braces embedded in them. The top and bottom of the structure withstand force through X braces inside of them that even out the force.
Idea 2: Idea 2 works by taking the force and from the top and sending it to the sides of the structure where small rectangles with X bracing will support the sides, helping withstand the force. However the top and bottom of the structure will withstand force through diamond bracing that will keep the structure from bending and caving in.
Idea 3: Idea 3 works by taking the force and putting it directly onto the sides of the structure. The sides of the structure will withstand force by compressing and taking more and more force. It will do this because the sides of the structure are made out of balsa wood stacked on top of each other. X bracing will be built inside of the structure to help the structure withstand force and keep it from caving in on itself.
Summary
We chose Idea 2 as our solution to the problem because it is lightweight as it uses the least amount of material out of all of the ideas. Because it is lightweight and used the least amount of material that also makes it the most efficient. We also predict that Idea 2 will withstand the most amount of force as it has the most bracing built into it in order to help withstand force. Idea 2 is also easy to replicate as the structure is made out of simple shapes such as squares and rectangles. All of these reasons make Idea 2 the best idea as it meets all of the criteria needed to make the best solution to the problem.
Idea Matrix
Technical Sketch
Mathematical Model
Our group found that there was a correlation between the weight of the tower and the amount of weight the tower held. This correlation showed that the heavier the tower the more weight it held.
Our group found that there was a correlation between the weight of the tower and the amount of weight the tower held. This correlation showed that the heavier the tower the more weight it held.
Working Model
Progress
On the first day of building we started to build the top and bottom of the tower and then moved onto the sides. We quickly realized that building the sides of the tower was going to be a lot harder than anticipated as the work was tedious and we needed to pay a lot of attention to detail. We then moved on to the second day where we realized that we had to start over on the sides of the because we had broken the pieces of balsa wood in order to create the X braces instead of notching the balsa wood. Due to this most of day 2 was spent rebuilding the sides that we had done incorrectly on the prior day. Then on day 3 we continued to assemble the sides, but we unfortunately had another setback. Instead of building the top and bottom with diamond shaped braces we built them with X braces. This stupid mistake set us back once more and one of us had to rebuild the top and bottom while another one of us had to continue building the sides. Finally on day 4 all of the sides were complete and we assembled and finished the tower. We glued all of the sides together then used the clamp on the side of the wooden table to keep the tower together while drying. Towards the end of class we decided to do some finishing touches, we first added more linear bracing to the top and bottom of the tower, then we tore off all excess glue.
Pictures
Progress
On the first day of building we started to build the top and bottom of the tower and then moved onto the sides. We quickly realized that building the sides of the tower was going to be a lot harder than anticipated as the work was tedious and we needed to pay a lot of attention to detail. We then moved on to the second day where we realized that we had to start over on the sides of the because we had broken the pieces of balsa wood in order to create the X braces instead of notching the balsa wood. Due to this most of day 2 was spent rebuilding the sides that we had done incorrectly on the prior day. Then on day 3 we continued to assemble the sides, but we unfortunately had another setback. Instead of building the top and bottom with diamond shaped braces we built them with X braces. This stupid mistake set us back once more and one of us had to rebuild the top and bottom while another one of us had to continue building the sides. Finally on day 4 all of the sides were complete and we assembled and finished the tower. We glued all of the sides together then used the clamp on the side of the wooden table to keep the tower together while drying. Towards the end of class we decided to do some finishing touches, we first added more linear bracing to the top and bottom of the tower, then we tore off all excess glue.
Pictures
Results
Our tower broke a total of 3 times while testing, but it was still able to re-stabilize and continue to hold weight up until 81 pounds. Here are the pictures from after the testing.
Redesign
If we were to rediegn our truss tower