Alex Ren

Popsicle Stick Bridge

 For this project, I designed and built a truss bridge out of popsicle sticks which held a load of 363.2N before failure, resulting in a strength to weight ratio of 674. The failure load of the bridge was predicted to be 24.6N using the 2D method of joints before the actual load was tested. The failure of the bridge occured due to the horizontal members which held the two trusses together snapping even though the members of the truss remained intact. 
This project taught me how to design and analyze a truss bridge as well as the limitations of 2D analysis. The 2D analysis failed to accurately predict the failure load of the bridge as it did not account for torsional loading of the bridge which resulted in the members bending as well as experiencing tension and compression. Some changes I would make to this design are to widen the bridge and to laminate weaker members. In the bridge design the diagonal members which were capable of higher loads were laminated instead of the weaker members. Widening the bridge would help to prevent torsional loading on the bridge and would likely increase the maximum load of the bridge.

Bridge Analysis Method
Post-Failure Bridge
Load Curve of Bridge throughout Testing

Contact

aren40@gatech.edu
408-464-5891
Alex Ren | LinkedIn