Toothpick Bridge Building Workshop

In memory of Chris Puchalla G.WIZ Education Program Manager / Mechanical Engineer

Bridge Evolution
What do you think was the very first bridge?
A

fallen tree trunk? Vines hanging over a river? Stones that made a stepping-stone path across a river?

Who do you think used it? Why do you think they would need a bridge?

Bridge Evolution
What do you think were the biggest problems with these types of bridges?
Location? Stability? Size? Strength? Life?

More needs!

Bridge Evolution
How would you solve these problems?
Learning

how to chop down a tree to make it fall across a river Gathering and piling stones to create a low bridge called a clapper bridge Stringing vines together to form a rope bridge

Bridge Evolution
More needs led to ... More tools which led to ... More developments... Which led to more needs And so on, and so on and ...

Basic Bridge Types

Arch Bridges Beam Bridges Cantilever Truss Suspension Bridges

Types of Bridges
Arch Bridges
The

arch bridge... has great natural strength. Thousands of years ago, Romans built arches out of stone. Today, most arch bridges are made of steel or concrete, and they can span up to 250 meters.

Types of Bridges
Beam Bridges
consists

of a horizontal beam supported at each end by piers. The weight of the beam pushes straight down on the piers. The farther apart its piers, the weaker the beam becomes. This is why beam bridges rarely span more than 75 meters.

Types of Bridges
Cantilever trusses
consists of an assembly of triangles. Truss bridges are commonly made from a series of straight, steel bars. Rigid arms extend from both sides of two piers. Diagonal steel tubes, projecting from the top and bottom of each pier, hold the arms in place. The arms that project toward the middle are only supported on one side, like really strong diving boards. These "diving boards," called cantilever arms, support a third, central span.

Types of Bridges
Suspension Bridges
can

span over 2.0 kilometers -- way farther than any other type of bridge! Most suspension bridges have a truss system beneath the roadway to resist bending and twisting.

Types of Bridges
Cable-Stayed Bridge
The cable-stayed bridge, like the suspension bridge, supports the roadway with massive steel cables, but in a different way. The cables run directly from the roadway up to a tower, forming a unique "A" shape. Cable-stayed bridges, like the Sunshine Skyway in Florida, require less cable and can be built much faster than suspension bridges. Cable-stayed bridges are becoming the most popular bridges for medium-length spans (between 150 and 900 meters).

What Is A Truss Bridge?

What is a Truss?
A TRUSS is a structure composed of members connected to form a rigid framework. A MEMBER is the component (toothpick) between joints. The MEMBERS are the load-carrying components. A JOINT is where two or more members (toothpicks) are connected (glue).

What Is A Truss?
A truss is unstable if the number of Joints (J) times 2 is greater than the number of Members (M) plus 3 Jx2>M+3
Member

7 10 8 1 9 2 11

6
12 13 3 4 5

Joint

How many Members?

Number of Members (M) = 13 M + 3 = 16

What Is A Truss?
A truss is unstable if the number of Joints (J) times 2 is greater than the number of Members (M) plus 3 Jx2>M+3
Member Joint

How many Joints?

Number of Members (M) = 13 M + 3 = 16 = Number of Joints (J) =8 J x 2 = 16

Triangles Rule!
Fold a full index card in half

Triangles Rule!
Bend up two lips on a half index card like this:

Triangles Rule!
Roll up a full index card like this: Squish it like this:

Unfold like this:

Triangles Rule!
Insert the folded large U-shaped piece into the small U-shaped piece as shown Push at arrow locations What happens?
J = 4; Jx2= 8
M = 4; > M+3= 7

UNSTABLE
A truss is unstable if the number of Joints (J) times 2 is greater than the number of Members (M) plus 3 Jx2>M+3

Triangles Rule!
Push down on the large V-shaped index card like shown. What happens?
PUSH

Triangles Rule!
Take the large V piece Insert it into the folded small U-shaped piece as shown PUSH Push down again J = 3; What happens now? Jx2= =
6

M = 3; M+3= 6

STABLE
A truss is unstable if the number of Joints (J) times 2 is greater than the number of Members (M) plus 3 Jx2>M+3

Types of Truss Member Forces

Tension Compression
Toothpick
50 N

Example:

25 N

Tension

25 N

Bending Forces
Tension Load

Compression Load Compression

Tension

Bridge Strength
Do you think toothpicks are stronger in compression, tension or bending? Why? What part of a toothpick truss bridge do you think fails most often?

Sample Triangular Trusses

Sample Triangular Trusses

Sample Triangular Trusses

Bridge Abutments
Load

Abutment Abutment

The Crusher
Load Cylinder

64.7 cm

45.7 cm Maximum

Loading Block 20.3 x 20.3 cm

50.8 cm

Abutments

17.7 cm

Rules
General
One

official bridge per student Construction and material must conform to the following rules:

Rules
Materials
Only standard length toothpicks
about 6.0 cm (2.5 in.) about 2 boxes (250 count per box)

Only approved glues

Carpenters Wood Glue Toothpick Bridge Building Glue NO POLYMER WOOD GLUES

Rules
Construction
Toothpick

cannot be altered No part of the bridge may be painted, coated, sprayed or dipped with an substance. Complete coverage of even one toothpick is cause for disqualification Bridge must be able to stand by itself Must be able to allow the 20.3 cm (8.00 in.) square LOADING BLOCK to be applied to the top center section of the bridge.

Rules
Construction (New Rule) It is not a requirement that the Bridge be constructed with a roadway, but no part of the bridge can extend above the bottom of the loading plate.
Loading Plate

Bottom

Rules
Size Limits
Maximum Mass (Weight)
125 grams (4.4 ounces)

Length
Must be longer than 50.8 cm (20.00 in) Must be shorter than 64.7 cm (25.50 in)

Width
Must be narrower than 17.7 cm (7.00 in)

Height
Must be shorter than 45.7 cm (18.00 in)

Truss Bridge Size

No taller than 18.00 in. (45.7 cm)

Longer than 20.00 in. (50.8 cm) but shorter than 25.5 in. (64.7 cm)

No wider than 7.00 in. (17.7 cm)

Truss Bridge Size

Longer than 20.00 in. (50.8 cm) but shorter than 25.5 in. (64.7 cm)

No taller than 18.00 in. (45.7 cm)

No wider than 7.00 in. (17.7 cm)

The Crusher Limits

TOO WIDE

TOO TALL

TOO NARROW

OK

Building the Bridge

Get

some large pieces of paper Draw outlines of the dimension limits based on rule #8 Design your bridge within these outlines Cover with waxed paper Use small amounts wood glue only to join toothpicks

Building the Bridge

Build

each Side flat After each section is thoroughly dry, glue the pieces together Allow enough time for the glue to thoroughly dry before the contest judging.

Judging
Bridges

will be measured, weighed and inspected to insure conformance to rules #3 through #10. Bridge and entrant will be photographed before CRUSHING A 2.25 kg (5 pound) dead load is applied The load is slowly increased until bridge failure occurs.

Judging
The

STRUCTURE RATIO is calculated

Example 1
Mass = 96 grams Failure load = 9.870 kg Ratio = 102.8 (102.8 times its own weight)

Example 2
Mass = 85 grams Failure Load = 9.0 kg Ratio = 105.9 (105.9 times its own weight)

Prizes
Prizes
Top

high school winners Top middle school winners Top intermediate grade winners Top primary grade winners

Good Luck & Have Fun!!!