Popsicle stick bridge

The Design Problem/ Design Brief

Problem: Our group was to build the strongest possible bridge, using wooden Popsicle sticks. There is a specific building guideline: No more than 100 Popsicle sticks may be used. The bridge must span a 55 cm gap. The sticks may not be cut. Only white glue may be used. Construction paper may be used for the deck only. In other words, the bridge needs to be able to hold a large, heavy load without easily breaking. A good design plan is necessary.



Brief: We are going to design/ make a Popsicle stick bridge that is able to hold a moderate amount of weight. We intend to solve this problem by reading the instructional document given by Mr. Martin. We are going to build a bridge made completely out of Popsicle sticks and that will span 55cm. In regards to safety we must be careful not to get slivers and be cautious with the glue. Materials that are needed are white glue & Popsicle sticks.

Analysis:
1. What safety precautions must I keep in mind?
2. How much time will it take to build?
3. What is going to be the overall size?
4. What special features need to be built into the design?
5. Does our solution solve the problem?
6. What designs already exist?
7. Where can I get research material for my design?
8. Will protection be necessary when testing the bridge?
9. Will the bridge have any other functions? ( i.e. Swinging draw bridge)
10. Would it be necessary to pre-test the bridge before the actual test?








Synthesis:
1. Our group must be cautious when using the bridge tester; we must watch where we put our fingers.

2. Our bridge project took 3 class periods of about 60 mins. We took time to think out our design plan and which different designs would work best.

3. The overall size of our bridge is going to be 55cm long so it will fit in the bridge tester.

4. Special features such as triangle and cross designs while overlapping the sticks; this will make the design as strong as possible.

5. Yes our bridge solved the problem! But I guess we won’t know for sure if it works until we test it!

6. It will be a good idea to some existing designs to make the bridge strong. For example, using the design of the triangle bridge would be helpful.

7. I researched my design problem on www.google.ca and looked up basic design ideas for bridges,

8. Protection might be necessary when building the bridge. Wear safety glasses and keep fingers clear. Though the stored energy in the jig is much less than in the springs of the APEG tester, forces will still exceed 100kg and elements may break suddenly.

9. No our bridge is strictly functional and does not have any special features.

10. It would be a good idea to pre-test the bridge, to make sure that it will be able to hold the pressure applied to it during the real test.






Ergonomic factors- It would be easier to do the project sitting down to get lower to the level of the bridge. Collect all information necessary before constructing the bridge. When ready to start, make sure the area is clear and flat. Solid flat wood is necessary to build the bridge on top of. The bridge must be constructed using only Popsicle sticks and white glue.

Measurements: figure out how long the bridge needs to be. Must be a 55cm span to ensure that the bridge is long enough to fit into the testing frame.

Safety- If toxic glue is being used, gloves may be needed because dermal irritation could occur. Keep your working space clean. Clear the surface that you will be working on. When testing the bridge, wear safety glasses and keep fingers clear. Forces will still exceed 100kg and elements may break suddenly.





Evaluation

1. I think the overall design turned out to be a success. It seems pretty strong. A change I would make would be the amount of Popsicle sticks used. I would have hoped for more to make the bridge stronger.
2. We in this project were given the materials used. So there was no need to pick any extras .
3. No colour scheme used.
4. The project didn’t take very much time to complete. It took more time for the glue to dry then to put the whole thing together. This wouldn’t alter the cost of the manufacture because it took about 20 minutes to complete. But then again it might because of the type of glue that is used.
5. Yes the solution was safe. I don’t think any alterations could be made to make the establishment safer.
6. The technique we used was to make the bridge as strong as possible. We could successfully do that.
7. Yes the solution is correct because we were to follow the exact span line asked of us.
8. Some people have approached us saying that the bridge looks extremely stronger than some other ones.