Hudson - Week 8

Q) Is [the Method of Joints] analysis sufficient for a real bridge? If not, why not?


I think that the Method of Joints analysis is close but not completely sufficient for a real bridge. Due to human calculating errors, I think that the MoJ analysis could prove faulty because it is a lot of calculations with quite a few places where a calculation could go wrong and throw off every calculation after that. For that reason, I would say that a computer program in addition to the MoJ analysis would be the safest way to figure out the various tension and compression forces on each member of the bridge.


Q) What further would you like to analyze and what knowledge or tools might assist you?


I think that the tension/compression force analysis is sufficient when coupled with cost to weight ratios. Using the MoJ analysis gives me a lot of information I can use in conjunction with the various bridge software to design the best possible bridge under the specifications of this project. 


This week my group plans to modify our bridge again basing the new design off of a revised version of our old design that is not only within the final specifications of the project, but that also uses the MoJ analysis and the Bridge Designer software to strengthen the main frame of the bridge.


Next week my group plans to continue revising and testing the bridge using the MoJ analysis to compare tension and compression forces between various bridge designs.