Project 1: Fettuccine Truss Bridge
This project allows students to conduct in depth research on the strengths of a truss bridge and to calculate the internal forces that are acting on the individual joints that make up a truss bridge. In a group of 6, students were required to design and construct a fettuccine truss bridge of 350mm clear span and a maximum weight of 80g. Other than aesthetic value, the efficiency of the bridge must also be considered.
Learning Outcome:
1. Able to evaluate, explore and improve attributes of construction materials.
2. Explore and apply understanding of local distribution in a truss.
3. Able to evaluate and identify tension and compression members in a truss structure.
4. Explore different arrangement of members in a truss structure.
Progress models
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Final Report ( Click to view )
Through this project, I learnt the calculation methods of the structural components of a truss bridge. I also learnt how different materials and ways of joining the structural members can affect the strength of the truss bridge. This can be useful in determining the strength of my built structure in the future.
Project 2: Extension of an R.C Bungalow
This project allows student to understand the division of forces within the loads of a building and the methods in calculating the amount of forces exerted on the slabs, beams and columns of a building. Students are to work in a group of 8 in the first part of this project, whereby the floor plan of a maximum 3 storey bungalow is to be obtained. Students are required to carry out structural framing and produce structural drawings for the bungalow. Structural plans include the foundation plan, ground floor plan, first floor plan and roof plan. In the second part of the project, each student is to conduct structural analysis on the bungalow:
1. Identify and quantify the load acting on the structure.
2. Analyse the structure.
- To analysis minimum 6 beams (each beam must subject to different types of load, i.e. UDL from one or more than one slabs, beam with point load(s) or combination of UDL and PL)
-To analysis minimum 4 columns (from roof to foundation level)
Learning Outcomes:
1. Produce a complete documentation on structural system of a case study
2. Explore and understand the concept of structural analysis
3. Identification of structural components
4. Recognize, Execute and implement basic procedures of building structure design
5. Produce a structural proposal
Final Report ( Click to view )
Workings for calculations
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Through this project, I learnt the calculation methods of the loads that a structure bears. I also learnt to calculate the amount of load the structural components carry from a structure. This is an important process before a building is erected as a structure made up of weak components can be life endangering.