Structure project
Here are some vocabulary words to start out with:
Compression-- Compression was probably the force our group thought the most about. Since this whole project is based on trying to withstand the most amount of weight placed on top of our structures. The weights are pushing down on the structure causing it be compressed and making it shrink.
Tension-- Our group didn’t think about tension since there would be no force trying to pull our structure laterally. The structure would only try and push outwards because it was under compression.
Rigidity-- From the demonstration in class we saw that a triangle is very rigid and does not give in easily. Therefore we used triangles in our structure instead of a less rigid squares or rectangles in our structure. We also discovered that a tightly rolled cylinder worked very well under compression much like the triangles.
Interesting info from research sheet:
One thing we found interesting is how perfectly bees build their hives. They use the hexagon shape because it is the best way to fill an area with the least perimeter this way getting the most out of their work. Every part is so perfectly built it amazes us. Steel is a popular material to build buildings with, in places like the Windy City because it is difficult to snap, however it is highly flammable. Therefore, steel reinforced concrete columns are used: steel's strength is in tension, where as concrete’s is in compression. Also, concrete acts as an insulator to steel to keep it from melting.
We learned from our interviews that the best design to use on a skyscraper is a square building with steel, glass, and lots of concrete foundations.
What we also learned while doing our research questions, is how many jobs that require knowing geometry for building structures. Many engineers and architects need to know to use a lot of teamwork when working on a project.
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Reflections:
Andy:
Looking back on this project I have mixed feelings many of our ideas worked very well and some did not do as well as we had hoped. The idea of trying to get as many tall objects to support the weight worked very well and was the keystone of our structure. One fault in our design was our structure was not very big and did not accommodate the weights very well. This design never gave us a center to place the weights on causing us to place the weights off center and causing the weight to be unevenly distributed. If we had another chance at this project I would try and make the structure more to the shape of the weights and where they would be placed. Another change I would make would be to glue some of our inner supports to the frame of the structure. This would keep them together and working together instead of as individual pieces.
Katie:
Our group did pretty well while working our structure. We had ideas and pretty much knew what would work and what would not. Our base was a triangle – a most used shape in buildings, and reinforced all throughout the inside. Some of us wanted to make it a little higher, but since it was already over 9.5 inches and it would increase the probability of tipping – we decided not to. I have many more ideas for our structure. If we had more options I would turn away from the use of glue because it makes the frame weaker. We hope the project can hold at least 25 lbs.
Brian:
I thought it was interesting that to make your structure stable you need to have a good foundation, steel frame, and a solid core. The best foundations are built on firm bedrock.
I used to think nothing when I used a rubber band, but now when I use one I think about tension and geometry. So this has changed the way I think.
Jeff:
I wasn’t around to do the interviews with the rest of the group, so I went into this project without the knowledge that they had. Even though this is true my group explained the different components of a good structure to me. This, plus the fact that we listened to everyone’s ideas before we moved on, makes me believe that we had a well put together group. As for the structure itself, I didn’t believe at first that you could make some thing to hold as much as 500 pounds out of 25 folders. I was wrong though. This helps me see how skyscrapers can be built on such a massive scale. If we could make changes to the structure I would make it wider because it was to small in the middle to hold the weight evenly. I would have also liked the option of gluing the structure or not because the glue weakened it a little.
Group:
Our group was pleased with how we did, but looking back on it we see there were some adjustments we should have made. Most of us thought that our structure should have been built around the shape of the weight for better weight distribution. Some members of the group thought that we should have made the structure only the nine and one half inches height minimum. While others wanted to make it taller for the height points. We all agreed it should have been more compact and tidy. We did like the way we incorporated both triangles and circles into the structure. Since our structure fell sideways we know it could have held more than 424 pounds, but we didn't center the weights correctly. The structure did better than thought with only one person over guessing the weight it could hold.
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Bibliography:
People Interviewed:
David Dunn--Owner,
Dunn Homes, Inc.
Mark Parker, Project Supervisor, Felmley Dickerson
Mike Kingler--President
of Kingler & Associates P.C.
Chris Wilson--Henry
Meisenheimer & Associates
Web Pages:
http://www.beakman.com/spider/spider.html
http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/7_24_99/bob2.htm
http://www.cactuscontainers.com/flutes.html#flutes