Bridge BuildingWebquest

Introduction Roles Task Process Evaluation Conclusion credits

Table of contents

Welcome to the engineering world. This project is designed to use simple materials to hold massive amounts of weight. Massive amounts of weight can be held through simple physics, math and science. The Bridge Building Webquest is designed for a team of four students to design and build their own wooden bridge.  The team researches  bridge designs, researches insurance, chooses occupations, and tracks spending.  At the conclusion of the project the bridge is stress-tested to determine its strength.

Introduction to Engineering Design

During this project you will incorporate many connections from “real life” mathematics.  Working in teams of 4, you will research bridge designs, building codes and rules, and then design your own bridge to span a 1 foot “canyon”.  Using web sites, you will research the four project job descriptions, choose jobs, and set salaries.  Your team will design the bridge and the team will submit a bid for the bridge’s projected cost.    Non-traditional tasks pop up during the project for your team to solve.  Finally, your bridge is stress-tested to determine the weight it can hold.  

 Your team is responsible for choosing a company name and designing and building the most efficient bridge you can out balsa wood.  Be careful with your design and during the building process as balsa wood is very fragile.  Each member of the team will need to choose one of the following jobs:

 Your team is responsible for choosing a company name and designing and building the most efficient bridge you can out balsa wood.  Be careful with your design and during the building process as balsa wood is very fragile.  Each team will need to choose one of the following jobs:

Project Manager Engineer Accountant Carpenter

Roles

Will research the history of bridges and compile pictures and information describing some of the more famous bridges ever built.  

During the building process the GM supervises all employees and makes sure all are doing their jobs.

Signs and approves building plans and purchase orders.  

Fills out all applications connected with the project (salary worksheet, bid worksheet, construction permit, and insurance applications and keeps all important papers connected with the project organized.  

Sees that construction site is maintained neatly and materials are stored safely.  

Helps construct the bridge.   Performs the duties of anyone absent.

Project Manager

Will research the design elements of bridges.   Runs preliminary planning sessions with the

company to decide on the general design of the bridge.  

Draws the plans for the bridge to scale on graph paper (top, bottom, and side views).  

Fills out purchase orders for the type and quantity of materials needed, then gives them to the accountant for further processing.  

Helps construct the bridge, making sure the plans are followed.

Engineer

Will research basic information on insurance.  

Prepares the bid worksheet.   Designs the company’s checks.    Writes the company’s checks for

payrolls, services, and materials.   Keeps balance sheet up to date by

posting checks to balance sheet.   Helps construct the bridge, when not

performing accounting tasks.

Accountant

Will research occupations and briefs team members about their research.  

Leads planning session to set salaries.   

Helps construct the bridge.

Carpenter

Your task is to research three types of bridges using a variety of web based resources: suspension, truss, and beam bridges.  You will then organize your research into a well-organized, typed, two-page research paper.  After completing the research, you will pick a bridge to construct using the balsa wood bridge building kits. You will submit a scaled blueprint drawing of your bridge with some load calculations as well. After construction, the bridges will be tested and weighed to determine their efficiency in a classroom competition.

Task

Step 1: Students will research three types of

bridges: truss, beam, and suspension bridges using a variety of web-based resources. Teams will need to visit the following Websites to determine the type of bridge that they will build.

Process

  http://abcdpittsburgh.org/kids/kids.htm   http://pghbridges.com/basics.htm   http://bridgepros.com/projects/index.html   http://historicbridgefoundation.com/   http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge

/index.html

websites:

Step 2: Using Microsoft Word, students will write a two-page summary of their research (12 pt. font, double space, 1" margins) focusing on a comparison of each of the types of bridges including advantages and disadvantages of each.  (one per group)

As well as a one page paper (12 pt. font, single space, 1" margins) explaining their role in the bridge designing process. (one per member)

Process

Step 3: Based on their research, students will then choose which type of bridge they will construct using balsa wood for the classroom competition. 

Process

Step 4: Using graph paper, students will draw an initial scale drawing of their bridge. The scale drawing should include a top (plan) view and a side (profile) view. The drawing should include all beams that will be included in the bridge. Students should use the class "Bridge-building" manual to ensure that the design is within the guidelines for competition. 

Process

Step 5: After the scale drawing is complete, student should choose one bridge section (minimum 3 beams) and do a load analysis of each of the beams.

Process

Step 6: Students will begin to construct a model of their bridge using balsa wood. Students should follow the guidelines provided in the class "Bridge-building" manual

Process

Step 7: Students will tape the scale drawing to a large piece of cardboard and then begin to place the different parts of the bridge directly over the scale drawing. They may also want to overlay the scale drawing with wax paper. The wax paper will keep the freshly glued components from sticking to the scale drawing. Lay the beams directly onto the drawing and use straight pins to hold each piece in place. 

Process

Step 8: Once students have all of the pieces laid out and pinned to their drawing, they will glue on the gusset plates working from one end of the bridge to the other, pulling the stringers taut as they go.

Process

Step 9: Students should allow each completed side, top, or bottom to dry overnight before removing from the component from the scale drawing.

Process

Step 10: After they have glued up both sides and the top and bottom, it is time to put all of the pieces together. Students can use gusset plates to join all the different pieces together.

Process

Step 11: To complete the project, all of the students' bridges will be weighed and load tested to calculate an overall efficiency in a classroom competition. 

Note: All model bridges will be load tested until they break.

Process

Category Exemplary Proficient Partially proficient Incomplete

Class participation(25 points)

Worked well with all members in class and in group. Always working during designated work time. (20-25 pts)

Worked with members in class and group most of the time. Spent majority of class time working.  (15-20 pts)

Worked well other members of class and group only some of the time. Only part of class time was spent working. (5-15 pts)

Did not work well with other members of class and group. Spent very little of class time working on project. (0-5 pts)

Research Paper [group](10 points)

Reserach paper covers all requirements in a well-organized, logical, manner with minimal grammatical errors. (10 pts)

Paper covers the majority of the requirements, is somewhat organized and logical and has some grammatical errors.  (7-9 pts)

Paper only covers some of the requirements, unorganized, illogical and has a large number of grammatical errors. (5-6 pts)

Research paper was either not turned in or did not cover any of the requirements. (0-4 pts)

Role paper [individual](10 points)

Paper covers the proper role and their tasks in proper detail (8-10 pts)

Paper explains role but not enough detail (5-7 pts)

Presentation does not discuss their role (1-4 pts)

Did not turn in individual paper (0 pts)

Scale drawings(15 points)

Scale drawing is neat with clear measurements and labeling for all components. It includes a top and side view and an exploded view of all beams. (13-15 pts)

Plan is neat with clear measurements and labeling for most components. It includes a top and side view. (10-12 pts)

Plan provides clear measurements and labeling for most components. It only includes a side or a top view. (6-9 pts)

Plan does not show measurements clearly or is otherwise inadequately labeled. Scale is not followed. (0-5 pts)

Bridge construction(10 points)

Great care taken in construction process so that the structure is neat, attractive and follows plans accurately within guidelines. (9-10 pts)

Construction was careful and accurate for the most part, but 1-2 details could have been refined for a more attractive product.  Most of construction is within guidelines. (7-8 pts)

Construction accurately followed the plans, but 3-4 details could have been refined for a more attractive product. Many of the qualtiies are outside guidelines. (4-6 pts)

Construction appears careless or haphazard. Many details need refinement for a strong or attractive product. Structure does not follow guidelines. (0-3 pts)

Bridge efficiency(15 points)

Structure functions extraordinarily well, holding up at least 5lbs. (12-15 pts)

Structure functions well, holding between 3 and 5 lbs. (8-11 pts)

Structure functions pretty well, holding between 1 and 3 lbs. (5-7 pts)

Fatal flaws in function with complete failure. Hold 1 or less pounds when load tested (0-4 pts)

Calculations(15 points)

Design includes calculation of anticipated loads for at least 3 beams. Calculations are neat, correct, and organized. (15 pts)

Design includes calculation of at least 2 beams. Calculations are somewhat neat, correct, and organized. (12-14 pts)

Design includes calculation of at least 1 beam. Calculations are sloppy, incorrect, and unorganized. (1-11)

No design calculations included. (0 pts)

Evaluation

Congratulations, you have succeeded in expanding your knowledge about bridges and their construction process. I hope you have gained valuable experience from completing this activity and have had a little fun along the way.

 Who would have thought building a bridge out of plain old balsa wood, would have been so challenging.  Think about the learning and experiences you encountered along the way.  You and your team researched bridge history, different types of bridge designs, basic insurance, and occupations.  As in real life, different applications had to be filled out prior to beginning construction.

Conclusion

Tim Hoffmann, Orange Ulster Boces

Jeff Rhodus, Elsanor

credits