Build Exercise: Truss & Beam

You are tasked to create the design and of a truss or a beam to carry $50$lb or $222$N at its center.

Create $2$ different truss$/$beam geometries.

For each truss, prove that it is statically determinate.

For each design create a form and a force diagram.

Indicate in the force diagram which members are in compression and which are in tension.

$($Hint: For your truss not to tip you could have multiple trusses connected and have them side by side, this will increase the load capacity and make the forces acting on each truss part lower$)$

Choose one of the designs and calculate the Rectangular cross section needed in Balsa to avoid crushing or buckling of its critical member.

Only use Balsa Wood: Balsa strength: E$\backslash$cong $100,000$ psi and stress$\backslash$cong $1$ ksi $($in tension and compression parallel to grain$)$

Although your structure should support $50$lb before failure, it should support $25$lb with minimal deflection.

Every element has a cross$-$sectional area of $0\mathrm{.}125$ square inches $(1/8$ in$2).$

For example, you may use thin strips of balsa $1/4$ x $1/2$ to build up sections with an area greater than $0\mathrm{.}125$ square inches, or you may use $1/4$ x $1/4$ and glue together.

No more than four pieces of wood may be glued together to make a single built$-$up member.

There is no limit to the number of pieces of wood used to build the joint connections.bottom