Brooke Riley, Brendan Fries
Faculty Sponsor: John Yukich
The overall quality of a bridge is determined by factors such as cost, durability, strength, and aesthetic appeal. In this project we are testing three of many bridge designs—a simple beam bridge, a truss bridge, and a tied arch bridge. To test the rigidity of these bridges, we find their spring constants. For each bridge we hang varying masses using a brace that goes across the bridge. On top of the bridge sits a laser pointer that points onto a white poster board across the room. Using a camera and Tracker technology, we can measure the displacement of the beam from its starting position due to the weight. We then plot Force vs. Displacement to find the spring constants. The higher the spring constant is, the stronger the bridge is.
