Research Log
Building Bridges

During your Internet research you must answer the questions below and include diagrams where appropriate.

Use these sites to find information:

Truss Bridge Laboratory
http://www.ce.ufl.edu/activities/trusslab/trussndx.html

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

What holds the balcony up in a cinema or theatre?
http://www.cbc4kids.ca/general/the-lab/do-it-yourself/9801/experiment1/default.html

The Academy
http://www.egr.uri.edu/ne/easne/mce/mce162-2.html

Research Questions:

 1. Name the BASIC types of bridge designs. There are variations of each that should be included.

2. Define the following terms:

Tension


Compression


Torsion


Shear


Stress


Strain


3. Explain the principles behind supporting a beam using the:
  • Truss method:




  • Arch method:




  • Suspension/Cablestayed method:


4. Discuss the pros and cons of these designs when applying them to the same situations.



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