Week 8: Bridget Breslin

In the previous week, the group had worked on two different aspects of the bridge project. The most difficult part of the week was analyzing the forces that were acting on the bridge. Calculations were completed to understand the mechanics of the bridge and get a better idea of how it actually worked. These calculations allowed our group to see the different weak points and strong points in the bridge structure. Having the calculations completed will allow the group to know exactly how and where to adjust the bridge to make it as strong as it possibly can. The group also worked on converting the bridge from its original two foot design into a three foot span design. The new design for the bridge has to be able to extent over a length of three feet. We decided to stick the original design pattern, just adding more parts to extend the length. After this was completed the bridge now has a length that is about three feet seven inches. Making the bridge longer allows for more leeway to position the bridge as needed during testing, whereas in the last test the bridge had a length of just about two feet, making it difficult to configure against the supports. I think in the upcoming week the team will have the greatest problem figuring out how to apply information gained from the analysis to improve the bridge design.

I believe the method of analysis used is extremely helpful. It allows one to see the strengths and flaws of the bridge without having to physically test it. The method of joints seems as if it would be sufficient for a real bridge, however would be more complicated. This method could be used to see how strong the bridge is and by using prior knowledge of bridge failures and the materials of the bridge one can make predictions of how the bridge design would work. However, further knowledge of location of the bridge would help to make better predictions. Factors of nature could affect the function of the bridge. Wind, rain, earthquakes and other types of natural disasters can cause a change in the forces on the bridge; having these numbers will help to make a better analysis.