Bridge Project Students will design and build a bridge using a variety of forming and joining processes. The final designs will be stress tested to breaking capacity. The bridge will be build using wire stock and fastened with forming and welding processes. This project incorporates engineering principles, stress testing, health and safety considerations and teamwork.

Design Information Bridge must span – 30 cm Bridge must be made from materials supplied No component of the bridge can extend to touch the ground. All bridges will be tested to capacity using destructive testing.

Bridge types All bridges are built to specific design specifications Different styles of bridges are used for different applications List one Bridge Type that you have crossed!

Bridge Terms SPAN Distance bridge travels unsupported LOAD Weight bridge needs to hold ** PYLON Supports bridge rests on

Bridge Loading Bridges must support a lot of weight. This weight is called a “load” Bridges must also resist environmental forces such as: wind, rain, ice and snow

Loads Loads are forces acting upon a structure due to weight

Mechanical forces Loads create movement in structures and these movements can cause failures in the materials.

Summary Remember how forces act upon a bridge for your design Think about the material and how it is strongest A roof is made from small lumber yet it holds up thousands pounds. WHY?

Research Assignment Find three different bridge designs and describe their characteristics Web search = bridge designs/types Bridge Building Modelling Software- Complete “Types of Bridges” Worksheet.