Constructing Environments Logbook W2

STUDIO REPORT FRAME: Building a Bridge Structure

691939 Concept 4

A bridge structure, (minimum 1500mm) was to be built from the following materials: -­ Balsa wood -­ Tape -­ Superglue -­ Pins -­ Plasticine

There was also the idea of creating a lock-­in system by cutting out parts of the balsa wood.

This would provide an undersupport and save material.

Size of balsa wood provided: 600 x 100 x 2 (mm)

The first sketch was our team member‘s general perception of a bridge structural sysrtem. However, we figured this design is not suitable as we do not have much material.

Concept 1 The idea of having two separate wood strips as the top sur-­ face could result in the load being distributed through two beams, dividing the load pressure and increasing the dura-­ bility of th structure.

We also thought of using leftover material to strenghten the centre part of the bridge‘s underside to increase the structure‘s support

Concept 2

Concept 3 6

STUDIO REPORT

691939

FRAME: Building a Bridge Structure (cont.)

Similar to our idea of cutting out areas of the balsa wood in order to create a lock-­in system, we proceeded with the following design:

The wood was too thin to cut it the way we imagined in our original concept but we managed to create a lock in system by cutting a measured bit out of the wood and interlocking it with another but at a different orientation. The vertical cut out planes also represent our second concept sketch of having two ‘beams‘ to allow distribu-­ tion of weight.

Further supporting these areas with the use of tape to enhance durability.

Cutting out approximately 50 mm of the middle of the provided balsa wood.

Interlocking a horizontal orientated piece with two vertical pieces that have cut out areas to hold on to horizontal piece.

Installing bridge structure, using pins to add support to the interlock areaas.

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STUDIO REPORT

691939

FRAME: Building a Bridge Structure (cont.)

This design was the most effective in the studio and despite being most durable, it had high aesthetics value too.

The structure began to fail when it started twisting. It stayed in tact but the twisting caused the ends to come off detached from the table.

This other structure had striking similarities to our first concept idea, showing that this structural framework is highly seen withinb-­ ridge designs.

It proved to be stable and its failure was not due to the structure of the support frame but rather just balsa wood not being a particularly strong material. The bre-­ akage here can be seen that the structural joints remain in tact but the material itself snapped due to the applied force.

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LEARNING LOOP

691939

Summary of week‘s learning -­ local materials -­ material efficiency -­ thermal mass (concrete, brick, earth: absorb coolth) -­ night air ourging (storing air at night, releasing at day) -­ solar energy -­ wind energy -­ cross ventilation -­ smart sun desgin -­ insulation (good materials: fibrewool, polysterene, hay, air) -­ water haresting (storing rain/groundwater for usage)

(Newton, 2014)

(Newton, 2014)

(Newton, 2014)

(Newton, 2014)

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GLOSSARY APPENDIX

691939

Frame Bracing

Span

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