ARC 2523 BUILDING STRUCTURES

FETTUCCINE TRUSS BRIDGE

TUTOR

MEMBERS :

MS. ANN
HIEW YEN NEE

0314212

LEONG CARMEN 0314953

LIEW HUI EN

0314920

TAN HENG YEE

0314941

YONG SEH LI

0314345

TABLE OF CONTENT
Page No.
1.

INTRODUCTION

2.

PRECEDENT STUDIES

3.

ANALYSIS
3.1. MATERIAL ANALYSIS

3.2. MOCK UP 1

3.3. MOCK UP 2

10

3.4. MOCK UP 3

12

3.5. FINAL TESTING

14

4.

CONCLUSION

5.

APPENDIX

6.

16

5.1. CASE 1

17

5.2. CASE 2

20

5.3. CASE 3

24

5.4. CASE 4

27

5.5. CASE 5

31

5.6. CASE STUDY ANALYSIS

34

REFERENCE

35

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 General Purpose of Study
The objective of this project is to have an overall understanding of a truss
bridge, the tension and compressive strength of construction material and the
force distribution in a truss. Students are able to identify the tension and
compressive strength of the members through calculation of reaction force
and internal force. Through understanding and evaluation of the structures of
a truss, a different arrangement of members in a truss structure can be
explored and improved.

1.2 Report Preview

In a group of 5, a truss bridge had been designed and constructed out of
fettuccine. The bridge should be able to cover a clear span of 750mm and has
a maximum weight of 200g. We have produced 3 mock up models and a final
model. This report will include the efficiency and analysis of all the models.
We will also include properties of the fettuccine and type of glue used. A
precedent study of a bridge will also be included alongside the calculation
questions given to every group member.

2. PRECEDENT STUDY

Blackfriars Street Bridge

Blackfriars Street Bridge n London, Ontario, Canada s wrought iron, through, bowstring
truss r tied arch bridge, placed across the North Thames River n 1875. The bridge still
carries frequent vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Its main span over the river is 65.8 meters (216 feet). It has diagonal load-bearing members.
These diagonals result in a structure that more closely matches a Parker truss or Pratt
truss than a true arch. There are lattice, v-lacing, and members all over. This large amount of
complexity is balanced by the simple, graceful appearance of the arched top chord. The
result is a bridge with incomparable beauty and appeal.

BOWSTRING ARCH TRUSS

Truss connection and members

The top chord has had plates of steel welded to the top of the column. Numerous rods
and bars have been welded onto many of the vertical and diagonal members as well. A
couple of added bars of steel run lengthwise through the middle of the truss.

3. ANALYSIS
3.1 Material Analysis
Fettuccine

After analysing the tension and compressive force of a

fettuccine, we have concluded that a fettuccine has
high tension and compressive force. However, due to
the nature of the fettuccine which cannot resist
bending force, the fettuccine tends to bend when it is
compressed.

We have also tested bending the fettuccine. When a

fettuccine is bent, it experiences compressive force at
the top part and tensile force at the bottom. The weak
points were at the one third points of the fettuccine.
Based on this experiment, we avoid having too many
connecting points at the weak points when overlapping
the fettuccine as the base.

We then tested the strength of fettuccine when it is

bent at different direction: when it is laying flat, and
when it is standingvertically. We have came to a
conclusion that the fettuccine is stronger when it is
bent standing vertically. Thus, in our designs we have
overlapped four layers of fettucciine as the base and
placed it in a way that the fettuccine is vertical. As for
the arch, the fettuccine is also placed vertically.

Glue
UHU Glue
We had used UHU glue to overlap the fettuccine
together.
Advantage : - strong when it is completely dry
- Enables movement shortly after glue is
applied. This allows us to overlap
fettuccine accurately before it dries.
Disadvantage : - Takes a long time to dry completely.
- Weak when it is not dried completely.

V-Tech 3 Second Glue

We had used the V-Tech 3 second glue to connect all
members together.
Advantage : - Dries quickly. Members are strong
shortly after glue is applied.
Disadvantage : - Fettuccine turns brittle if left too long
with the 3 second glue.

3.2 Mock up 1
Max Length : 104cm
Max Height : 33.5cm
Mass
: 466g
Max Load : 5.0kg
Efficiency :

Modification

Test 1

The horizontal members that hold the load directly break when the load reached 1kg.
According to our analysis, this is due to the layering of fettucinne used to form the horizontal
members are not sufficient. There are only 8 layers of fettuccine for the supporting members.

Test 2

To improve the supporting members , we used cross.The reason of doing this is to spread the
force exert by the load diagonally out from the center. However , the center point of the
cross broke when the load is 3.5kg.

Test 3

Using the same bridge, we modified the supporting members at the center and enhance its
strength. By enhancing it , we add more layers of fettucine for the supporting
members.instead of only one support member , we used three supporting members,each
with 8 layers of fettuccine.Other than that ,instead of using S hooker, we change it to a book
strap to hang the load .This is to allow force distribute to greater area.

Failure Analysis ( Test 3)

One of the supporting members
cannot resist the force exerted
toward the center, therefore ,it
detached from the bridge when the
load reached 5kg.

Only two
supporting
members left

Only two supporting members left

to support the load. As the load is
off from the center of the bridge ,
the load distribution is unequal
between the left and right part of
the bridge.
This supporting members
cannot resist at is original
position and detach from
bridge at last

compression

The horizontal members at the

bottom of the bridge start to bend
at the right side of the bridge. Then,
the vertical members and diagonal
bracing start to detach from the arc
members
The bracing

The right side of the bridge failed

then cause the bridge to collapse
at last.

3.3 Mock up 2
Max Height: 22cm
Max Length: 102cm
Mass : 266g
Max Load : 6.1
Efficiency :

Improvement

1.Reduce usage of fettuccine

Due to the overweight of the first mockup model (466g) ,we reduce the usage of fettucine instead
of reducing the members. We only enhance the vertical and diagonal members at the center of
the bridge.

2.Reduce the height of bridge

The vertical and diagonal members of the first bridge are constructed by overlapping the
fettuccine.After the testing , we found out that will reduce the tensile force of the memebers as
the members will snap away from each other. Therefore , we reduce the height of the brigde and
make sure the maximum height of the bridge do not exceed the average length of fettuccine.

3.Change the direction of hanging load

From the first mockup bridge , the main problem is the strength of the supporting members as
most of the testing have failure at the supporting members.To solve this problem ,we decided to
change the way of hanging load .This might affect the force distribution as well. Therefore , we
change the direction
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Failure Analysis

Force acting inward hold the

supporting members in position

Snap away from the bridge

Unequal load distribution

Only one side of the supporting members snap off

even though the book strap lie on top of both the
supporting member the force evenly. This might
because the force does not distribute equally to both
the supporting members.

The bridge failed because the bottom chord snapped along with a supporting member. The
supporting member did not snap like the first mock up bridge as the book strap exert an
inward force on the supporting members. However , the downward force by the load is
now sustain by the bottom chord. The bottom chord tends to bend downward which fixed
by both vertical/diagonal members both side.
11

3.4 Mock up 3

Length
Max. Height
Max. Width
Mass
Max.Load
Efficiency

: 90cm
: 20cm
: 8cm
: 177g
: 1.8kg
: 18.31

Failure Analysis

The whole structure

has torn into two
when the load apllied
is 1.8kg.
3RD BRIDGE FAILURE

The middle structures

remain the same and
has improved compared
to previous design.
3RD BRIDGE FAILURE

The structure broke at these

two points due to overpowered
forces.
3RD BRIDGE FAILURE

12

COMPRESSION
TENSION

LOAD

Diagram: Tension and Compression member (3rd mock up)

900m
m
3 layers
1 layer
3 layers

TOP VIEW
Vertical members and bracings have 2 layers, glued with UHU

Centre X-bracing has 2 layers and were doubled on one truss, glued with UHU

SIDES LAYER

80mm
4 layers on each of the three components

BOTTOM LAYER

200mm
CROSS SECTION
13

3.5 Final Bridge

Length
Max. Height
Max. Width
Mass
Max.Load
Efficiency

: 90cm
: 20cm
: 8cm
: 184.65g
: 2.5Kg
: 34.94

FAILURE ANALYSIS
The whole structure was
slated to one side before
load testing. Trusses
where not as strong
because the glue was not
dried completely and had
weakened the whole
structure.

The structure broke at one side of

the trusses due to overpowered
forces. Reason being both contact
points of the bridge to the table
have different lengths.

The center component detached from the trusses and

were not damaged because of the weak connections.

One side of
the truss
broke and the
other truss
remain the
same .

Only one layer

of fettuccine
was applied to
the above and
below
horizontal
members.
They are too
weak and it
broke of
tension.

14

COMPRESSION
TENSION

LOAD

Diagram: Tension and Compression member (final bridge)

Joins were glued using 3 second glue

900m
m
3 layers
1 layer

3 layers

TOP VIEW
Vertical members and bracings have 2 layers, glued with UHU

Centre X-bracing has 2 layers and were doubled on one truss, glued with UHU

SIDES LAYER

80mm
16 layers

BOTTOM LAYER

200mm
CROSS SECTION
15

4. CONCLUSION
Through the process of this project, we came out a conclusion that the stability and
solidity of a truss bridge is very important. It has to be achieved by a good quality
workmanship and also the connection in the joint. Besides, it is important to
determine the respective force member in the bridge by applying Newtons law as well
as calculating resolution force component. The reason of doing this is to make sure the
materials are used in the right area according to the force determined in order to
produced an efficient bridge not only in terms of quality and material but also time
usage on producing the bridge.

16

5. APPENDIX
5.1 Case 1
Done by: Hiew Yen Nee

17

18

19

5.2 Case 2
Done by: Leong Carmen

20

21

22

23

5.3 Case 3
Done by: Liew Hui En

24

25

26

5.4 Case 4
Done by: Tan Heng Yee

27

28

29

30

5.5 Case 5
Done by: Yong Seh Li

31

32

33

5.6 CASE STUDY ANALYSIS

CASE 1

CASE 2

CASE 3

CASE 4

CASE 5

Number of
members
with zero
force

Highest
critical force

168.58

168.58

190.43

202.9

179.29

CONCLUSION
Truss system in case 1 is the most effective although it has the same internal force of its
critical member is at minimum value as case 2 compared to other and it, but case 2 has one
zero force member. This conclude that the internal forces in structure case 1 are relative
effective though zero force member exist.

34

4. REFERENCE
Blackfriars Street Bridge. Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. Web. 6. Oct. 2014.
<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfriars_Street_Bridge>.
Truss bridge. Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. Web. 6. Oct. 2014.
<http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss_bridge>.
Truss Bridges - Types Of Bridges. (n.d.). Web. 6. Oct. 2014.
<http://ojhsbridges.weebly.com/truss-bridges.html>.

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