Week 1 - Introduction Course and Projects

Exercise 1: Horizontal Supports

Teamed up with:
Simon
Sang
Jonathon

Part 1: Kebab Stick + Hot Glue Bridge

https://youtu.be/PILEt_ZhfCU

Here, we made the height of the structure a priority due to its parameters required to be appropriate for the design. With only a limited amount of skewers, we went with a thin but stiff design. This can be seen as the sticks are stuck side by side with super glue and are structurally stabilised by triangle trusses attached on the surface to secure their positions. Therefore the height of the overall structure has reached 50mm tall. In addition, we made two of the main truss supporting pieces which are hot glued in a triangular position as we thought it may hold in place much easier with spare supporting sticks. Hence an 'A' Shape is formed.

During the process of piling on the reams of paper, the structure itself was not stiff enough to stay in its starting position, where the panels lean to one side and ultimately support themselves on the ends. What made the bridge fall was its inability to grab onto the table well enough. Otherwise, once it collapsed the structure did not snap and instead sprung back into shape.

Final no. of reams achieved: 6

Part 2: Kebab Stick + Elastics + Fishing Line Bridge

https://youtu.be/QV7rrfLojio

Here, we explored the flexibility of a self-supporting structure that could stop itself from collapsing. This was made possible through elastic connections bending as force is applied to the structure. By attaching elastics to hold together at the joints and even fishing lines between the ends of the structure that sit on the table, the weight is thought to fall into the centre and pull straight onto the fishing line that sits beneath, catching the force. This was also in addition to attaching materials that could grab onto the surface of the table. The elastics have a rubbery element that stabilises the position of the structure.

Unfortunately, our design immediately flawed once the first ream was stacked onto the structure. But the elastics held quite well to secure the position of the bridge with little movement on the surface of the table.

Final no. of reams achieved: 3

Part 3: Paper Bridge

https://youtu.be/_mvdm9NEbvY

Here, we only used paper as the material in which to build a bridge that could support reams multiple times its weight. The way in which we approached this was to construct the most strong version of a paper component, almost like a straw, that resulted with minimal bending when force was applied. Due to the length of the gap between the tables, one paper straw could not span the distance adequately and so we manufactured a paper string to tie the straws together with minimal movement.

It did surprisingly well in that it worked at all! In the video, I think what failed the design was the fact that there was no weight that could tie down the ends of the bridge to support the centre. Thus forming a heavy 'U' shape when the first ream was placed. 

Final no. of reams achieved: 1