Identify The Problem- In this project we are trying to create a truss tower made out of balsa wood sticks that can sustain 50 or more lbs of force. Generate Ideas- We have thought of building a tower like in the picture above (rectangular) or building more of a cone shaped tower where it is skinnier at the top and wider at the bottom.
Constraints - Their is only elmers glue that can hold the pieces of balsa wood together -Only balsa wood is allowed. -Only a week of time is provided -Can only use our hands to cut, and change the balsa wood length.
Criteria - Some criteria is: Strength- Strength is how sturdy the tower is and how much it can hold Size- The biggest you can go is 4-4-5 and the smallest is 3-3-5 Effectiveness- Effectiveness is how well it works and stands up under the pressure of weight.
Summary- I have researched designs on google and have decided the best one to use is a rectangular design which is our last picture.
Theoretical Research - -They can be used as electricity transmission towers, as a radio tower or as an observation tower. -A world famous example of a truss tower is the Eiffel Tower in Paris -A truss tower is also called a "lattice tower" -The tallest wooden lattice tower was at Mühlacker, Germany. It had a height of 190 metres (620 ft) and was built in 1934 and demolished in 1945. -Nowadays, the tallest truss tower is the Kiev TV Tower, with a height of 385 metres (1,263 ft). -Truss towers can either be made with wood, or any other durable and long lasting metals. -Truss towers are often designed as either a space frame or hyperboloid structure. Credit to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lattice_tower Empirical: Empirical Research - -We never had a trial error type situation.
-We only had one test just like in life when we have one shot and opportunity.
-We learned that we only have one shot at getting this right and were lucky enough to do so.
Graphical model:
Mathematical Model: When testing our truss tower out, the computer froze and did not provide a graph at the end of the testing. I couldn't find it on the PowerPoint, so we are just using the graph below comparing the data between all of the class period below.
On the X-axis is the weight of the truss tower itself, and on the Y-axis is the weight the truss tower held. It seems the heavier the truss tower the more weight it can hold. The points on the graph show that because there are more that hold a higher amount of weight in the heavier section of the truss tower.
Possible Solutions -
Current Progress & working model: 4-13-15 We have started researching and discovering what truss towers are today and how to build them. Heres a cool video of a balsa wood tower holding up a bunch of weight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztFeTKI1ukY 4-14-15 Today we have started the glueing and making process of our balsa wood tower and Aaron and I have finished our final design for a tower.
4-15-15 I was absent 4-16-15 Today we are working on finishing the truss tower and are trying to finish glueing it. 4-17-15 Today we are redesigning our figure and have to build a new one that is smaller so it will fit in our box. Our original figure was to wide on the edges because we double stacked the balsa wood on the edges so for our new design we will only double stack on the top. 4-20-15 I was absent this day 4-21-15 So far we have designed and built 3 sides out of four of our truss tower. We are finishing the fourth and final side now and will attach it once our current shape has finished drying.
4-23-15
Today we tested our balsa wood towers. Aaron and I's tower held 91lbs.