Elizabeth Park

Team Members: Osric Nagle, Elizabeth Hosmer, Nick

Maughan

2.1.9 Truss Design

POE Block 3

Date: December 9th, 2015

Problem Statement:
Our task was to create an efficient truss. The criteria is to design a truss based on tests
and researches and find efficiency. The constraints are that you can only use balsa wood, glue,
and paper to build the truss, and the truss must have a span over 6 inches and a height over 4
inches to fit into the apparatus. No more than 36 inches of wood should be used, and paper
gussets shouldnt be larger than the gussets used during testing.

Test Truss:

The bottom member broke into two pieces near the corner where two members are
connected. The maximum force before breaking was 16 lbs and the truss weighed .016 lbs. The
truss was not centered right because there was excess at the corner of the truss that broke. I
learned that in order to support more force the truss has to have right size so it would fit exactly
at where its pinned. The efficiency was 100000%.

Research Results:
From my research, I found out that truss with shorter members are more efficient than
those with longer members. Also straight members and equilateral triangle makes the truss
stronger.
<WoodSolutions. "Architectural Roof Trusses." WoodSolutions. N.p., 2013. Web. 7 Dec. 2015>

<Mets, Matt. "Ask MAKE: How Do Trusses Work?" Make DIY Projects HowTos Electronics
Crafts and Ideas for Makers. N.p., 10 June 2010. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.>

Design Idea:

Decision Process:
Osrics idea had a good maximum stress and was simple to make but the length didnt
meet the requirement. Nicks idea had good size, but was a little complicated. Beths idea had
good size, length, and maximum stress, but less simple. For the decision matrix, we used length,
maximum stress, size, number of members. and simpleness as criteria. We chose the design with
highest total score, which was Beths.

Official Test:

It broke at the corner first when the maximum force reached 70 lbs. After the first break,
the second and third break happened in short time. The efficiency was 390189.5%.

Teamwork:
Osric had a role of cutting woods. He took members opinion well and adjusted the
length of the wood pieces when was asked to do so.
Nicks role was to create MD Solid. When he was finished with it, he helped other
members with their work. He also did his work in time before helping anyone.
Beths role was to glue the wood pieces together. She did her work in time and
participated actively. She also helped other members in spare time.
My role was to cut paper gussets. I did my work in time and help Beth with gluing the
gussets to the wood truss.

Reflection:
1. I think the truss broke at the corner because when we were fitting it into the glass, the corner at
the left was a little short. Therefore, the support at the corner might have been not enough to
resist the force.
2. If I was to redesign my truss, I would add another member vertically near the corner at both
sides, and another slanted member to make the members form triangle shape.