Build A Truss Bridge

Urban planning is a class based on what it takes to create the foundation and blueprint of a city. We are in the process of reading the nonfiction book The Devil in the White City.  It focuses on the events and people behind the building of the 1983 Chicago's World's Fair as well as the deeds and character of H.H. Holmes. We went on a field experience where we met with the Metropolitan Planning Council. This council targets growth in the city by collaborating with communities, governments, and business leaders. They gave us a tour of the bridges in Downtown Chicago and gave us an in depth explanation of how they are involved in repair, wildlife care, river hygiene, material regulation and overall improvements to be made. The math we learned was the law of Sines, Cosines, and Heron's formula. We learned the relationships between compression and tension as well as the anatomy of a bridge, types of bridges, and which types would be best for specific scenarios. In my action project, I worked with a partner to design and build a truss bridge made out of Popsicle sticks. Our overall goal was to make it efficient enough to hold ten pounds. I present to you my process:

This exercise tested my patience because we used Elmer's glue to hold together our desired design, which takes some time to dry. It turns out, our bridge did very well in testing. As a truss bridge, it wouldn't have done well because the side placements were thin, weak, and crooked. However, when flipped upside down and used as a beam bridge, we reached the maximum number of weights it could hold without breaking; 105 pounds. Here is proof:

PKA, Testing, 2019.

My project relates to the Sustainable Development Goal 11 because it strives to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. In the sense of safety, bridges are counted on everyday. They support hundreds of lives in the crossings from one destination to another. It is significant for the urban planning in bridges to have resilience and be long lasting. If not, any aging or threats need to be acknowledged as soon as possible.