Truss bridge – a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss. This truss is a structure of connected elements forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads.
Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges. The basic types of truss bridges shown in this article have simple designs which could be easily analyzed by nineteenth and early twentieth century engineers. A truss bridge is economical to construct owing to its efficient use of materials.
That’s engineering
- strength to weight ratio – load carried at failure divided by the structure weight
Engineering ideas
- truss, tension, compression, span, strength to weight ratio, pinned joint, geometry, beam, load, failure
Do It
Challenges for you to work on…
- Truss bridge – design, build and test the weight capacity of bridges constructed from craft sticks, using a key engineering concept: the truss. The weight test examines material efficiency.
- Truss Bridge guidelines – Design a truss bridge with the highest strength to weight ratio that is able to span at least 10 inches. (video 5:26)[[**News, updates****Learn more…*** [[http://www.instructables.com/id/Project-Based-Engineering-for-Kids/|Project-Based Engineering for Kids – lots of great projects, low cost materials, easy to follow instructions with pictures, videos
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