At this point we have discovered force in truss members using the Joint Method form of analysis. It was an easy enough approach to the problem of force in long members on real bridges, and I believe it can be applied into real applications. For example our Knex bridge can and should be analyzed mathematically before we attempt to apply any extraneous weight to it. Actual engineers use math as a tool everyday to make sure their ideas can come to life, and we are no different. Safety, usefulness, and financial awareness are all issues which can be addressed using simple math and physics. If a bridge breaks due to a problem that could have been foreseen using a pencil and paper, there is no excuse for this laziness.
Down the line I believe I would like to analyze some of the factors which contribute to the swaying of the bridges we have seen in lab. It obviously is an issue with the joints of the trusses, but there must be a way to look at these problems on paper before we apply them in lab. It seems that Knex joints are not very strong, but that should not matter with a proper design. This week and next week our group will be working hard to look at our bridge very closely to analyze any problem we may foresee.
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