Week$02$–$FRAME$
$
Jennifer$Payette$
$ Studio'Brief:'Build'a'tower'as'high'as'possible'using'pieces'of'cut'balsa'wood' provided.'The'frame'can'be'shaped'in'any'way;'however,'the'tower'should'be'able' to'hold'some'weight.' ' ' ' $ $A$triangular$base$was$chosen,$as$a$ square$base$would$require$too$much$ material$and$a$circular$base$would$not$ be$possible$with$this$material.$$ $ $ $ $ $ As$we$began$to$add$height$to$the$tower,$we$noticed$that$ the$side$beams$were$not$holding$firmly,$and$would$ require$some$reinforcement,$in$order$to$not$overturn.$ Adding$two$pieces$of$wood$that$crossed$each$other$ stopped$the$beams$from$wanting$to$turn.$ $ $ $ $ $ As$we$began$to$run$out$of$material,$ instead$of$continuing$to$add$height,$we$ chose$to$strengthen$the$base$and$frame.$ This$was$done$by$adding$more$pieces,$ which$crossed$over$on$the$sides.$ $ $
$ $ $ $ $ As$weight$was$added$to$the$tower,$to$ test$its$strength,$we$saw$that$the$weight$ came$onto$the$horizontal$beams,$which$ had$not$been$further$reinforced,$as$well$ as$beams$on$the$base.$The$tower$was$ also$beginning$to$turn.$ $ $ $
Week$02$–$FRAME$
$
Jennifer$Payette$
$ $ $ The$balsa$wood$snapped$due$to$ compression$in$the$base.$Thicker$pieces$ of$wood$of$shorter$lengths$may$have$ allowed$the$tower$to$hold$more$weight.$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Material:$Balsa$wood$is$a$very$lightweight$and$flexible$ material.$Through$this$exercise,$I$found$that$it$is$not$very$ strong$under$compression,$and$this$meant$that$the$thin$strips$ used$for$the$tower$were$not$able$to$support$a$lot$of$weight.$ ' ' $