Week 7: Corey Duane

          In week 6, the group tested their bridge.  In the previous week, the bridge was able to hold 36 pounds. Minor modifications were made to stop the bridge from twisting.  The modified bridge was able to hold 47 pounds.  A video was taking during the testing in order to capture the failure of the bridge.  After close examination of the bridge and video, it was determined that the bridge did not fail because of twisting like in the previous week, but it failed at the end points.  After the test, the group further modified the bridge by removing some members that had effect on the strength of the bridge, resulting in a decrease in the cost.
          A major benefit of West Point Bridge Designer was being able to see and recognize any weak points of the bridge with "block box".  This allowed for the designer to quickly modify the bridge and correct any weak points.  This helpful tool is not available with the Knex.  There is no way to tell which members are under the most tension and if there are any major weak points.  With the Knex, the only way to find out these things is to test it and exam the bridge once it has failed.