Truss Design Activity

Fabricate an assigned truss (truss #1 or #2) from wooden sticks and glue to match given dimensions. Test the truss for efficiency data and complete force calculations for all members.

This was a salient civil-engineering learning experience. Precision mattered at every step — an off cut, too little or too much glue, or a sloppy calculation could cascade into a much weaker truss. Real-world trusses in bridges and roofs demand this same rigor.

I could have been more precise cutting individual wooden members — several joints didn't hold well. I could also have designed better cut-lines; certain shapes were too basic and may have contributed to weakness. Still, the truss supported 65 lbs.

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