Basics of Bridge

Construction
Build a Spaghetti Bridge Project

Photo Journal

Created By
**** ******
April 2008
 Planning
• 8 Processes of Engineering
• Identify the Problem This problem was given
Build a bridge out of Spaghetti.
Span between 20 and 30 inches
Wide enough to allow a 2 x 4 flat to pass unimpeded through all supports.
Able to support 15 lbs at any point along deck
• Research the Problem What makes a bridge strong

• Develop Possible Solutions

• Select Best Solution
• Construct a Prototype
• Test and Evaluate
• Redesign
• Communicate Solution
 The Challenge
Challenge
Research , design, build and
revise:
• A bridge using only
spaghetti and hot glue
• Bridge span should be
approximate 20 -30 inches
• Bridge base must be
smooth enough for 2x4 to
pass through unimpeded
• Bridge should support 15
lbs at any point on deck
Step 1 Research

Interactive lessons from PBS Building Big

1st Bridge Basics exercise

at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/basics.html

2nd The Bridge challenge

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/challenge/index.html

3rd Forces Lab Exercise

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/forces.html

Watch History Channel/National Geographic

True Story of the Bridge of River Kwai
 Step 2 Design Bridge

• Choice Warren Truss bridge

• Looked Sturdy and seemed to be
able to be built with Spaghetti and
hot glue
• Need to calculate the length of the
span, height of trusses, width of
roadbed
• Decide on how many pieces of
spaghetti would be used in one
bridge section
Step 3 Begin Construction

Prototype 1
• Follow design and construct first
truss
• Double check that all sections are
right length and same number of
spaghetti in each
• Place sections in triangles and
begin gluing in proper places
• Do not use excessive amounts of
glue
 Prototype Construction
The trusses

Prototype 1

• Construct 1st truss

Prototype Construction
The trusses

Prototype 1

• Construct 2nd truss

 Prototype Construction
Step 4 begin construction of base
Prototype 1

• Measure lengths and count

number of spaghetti pieces
in each section

• Place longer sections on

bottom and shorter
sections on the top

• Glue and let sit to dry

 Prototype Construction
Step 5 Finish construction

• After all the different

pieces of the bridge have
finished drying its time to
finish the prototype
• First you must place a
road bed on the base
• Put the trusses on the base
and glue and let set
• Then place the cross
braces at the top of the
trusses for a bit more
support
• Let set for awhile
Step 5 Finish Construction

Completed
Prototype
End view
 Prototype Construction
Step 5 Finish Construction

Completed
Prototype
Side view
Step 6 Test Prototype for problems

After the glue has set, check

the bridge for potential
problems

• The trusses were not all

the same height
• The base was not strong
enough
• There was a noticeable
curve
 Step 7 Redesign Bridge

• When redesigning
the bridge make sure
that all the problems
with the Prototype
were fixed
• Decide if change
needs to be made in
order of construction
Final Product Construction
Step 8 Measure and Cut

Correcting my first error, not

every piece of spaghetti is
the same length

Correction
• Measure each piece of
Spaghetti and cut to
proper lengths
 Final Product Construction
Step 9 Trusses

• Correcting 2nd error; not all

triangles were the same size

• When constructing the trusses

measure out the points for all
the triangles to meet the beams.
• Glue and let set
 Final Product Construction
Step 10 Base

Correcting 3rd error

Base was curved and did not
lay flat
The glue on each piece must
set and then be trimmed to
allow bridge deck to be
flat and level
 Final Product Construction
Step 11 2nd layer added to base

The bridge must hold 15 lbs

at any point on the deck.

To give the deck added

strength a complete layer
of spaghetti was added to
the base running
perpendicular to the
beams and future deck.
Final Product Construction
Step 12 Assemble structure
 Project Completion ( almost)

Now all that was left was

to trim decking to
square.
Project Completion

End View
 Project Completion

Side view
Project Completion

Overhead view
 Final Testing

S p anning 2
C h airs
TestingBridge Strength

I borrowed 2
weights from
a local
hardware
store
Testing Bridge Strength

10 lbs
N o Problem!
Testing Bridge Strength

15 lbs
I did it!
 Communication
Thanks to:
Presentation of
Photo Journal PBS: Build Big

Created using Microsoft
Price Of Freedom : True
Powerpoint S tory of The B ridge on
Piccasa 2 Photo Editor River Kwai

U ns c h oole r’s
E ng ine e ring C lu b
2 007 – 2 008