BSTRUCTURE

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING &DESIGN .
Research Unit for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)
BUILDING STRUCTURES (ARC 2523)
Prerequisite: Building Construction 2 (ARC2213)
Project 1 Fettuccine Truss Bridge
MOHD HASIF FAWWAZ BIN SUKIMAN| 0311561
LYDIA AMALINA BINTI FARIDAN | 0308714
PENG YEP SIANG | 0315259
AMELIA MICHELLE BERNARD | 0310316
YAP WEI TYNG | 0314058
MEERA NAZREEN | 0309630
NICK MATAARI | 0312812

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TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Methodology
Precedent Studies
Materials & Equipment
Model Making & Design Development
Structural Analysis
Conclusion
Appendix
Case Study
References

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Truss is a structure built up of three or more members which are normally considered
being pinned and hinged at the joints or referred to as nodes. Load applied to the
truss is transmitted to joint so that each individual members. The connected
elements were typically vertical may be stressed from tension, compression or
sometimes both in response to dynamic loads.
1.2 Project Preview
In a group of 7, we were assigned to constructe a fettuccine bridge with a clear span
of 350mm and 180g of weight limitation. The fettuccine bridge will be tested on the
efficiency by load testing. Fifferent types of truss typologies and arrangement,
jointing methods between each member, load distribution analysis and efficiency of
fettuccine bridge will be discussed for depth study of truss bridge structure. To aid
the analysis of truss bridge structural study, a set of testing result will be provided.
1.3 Aim of Study
1. To develop student’s understanding of tension and compressive strength of
construction materials
2. To develop student’s understanding of force distribution in a truss
3. To design a perfect truss bridge which fulfils the following criterias:
• High level of aesthetic value
• Minimal construction material
1.4 Learning Outcome
1. Able to evaluate, explore and improve attributes of construction materials
2. Explore and apply understanding of load distribution in a truss
3. Able to evaluate and identify tension and compression members in a truss
structure 4. Explore different arrangement of members in a truss structure

4. 4
2.0 METHODOLOGY
2.1 Precedent Study
We have to conduct a research about truss bridge and study every details that was
about the arrangement of members, joints and orientation of every members. The
final model of our fettuccine bridge will be design and constructed base on the
research and detail we known from our precedent study.
2.2 Material testing & Equipment Preparation
Phase1: Strength of the selected material (fettuccine)
Understanding the physical properties of the fettuccine is important in order to build a
strong bridge that available to carry the maximum load and reach the highest
efficiency for it. For the tensile strength of the fettuccine is considerable low compare
to aluminium which has the same amount of stiffness to the fettuccine.
Phase 2: Adhesive
Picking the right type of adhesive also take one of the most important role in this
assignment. There are many types of adhesive in the market with different kinds of
chemical properties and characteristic. With different chemical properties and
characteristic, they will react differently with the fettuccine. Picking the brand of the
adhesive also important because different brand has different quality and choosing
the best one to suit the construction of the fettuccine bridge is primary.
Phase 3: Model Making
To ensure the accuracy and the precision of our model making, we produced a
drawing that was 1:1 scale and drawn out on a graph paper to ensure precision and
ease our process. In order to produce a efficient and well-planned bridge as much as
possible, we marked each fettuccine individually as each of them has their own
location of placement and certain length to be glue accordance.
Phase 4:
Finished model are being tested after they are completely stick together and harden
after a certain period of time. By placing weight on the middle of the intermediate
member to ensure that load is evenly distributed and all members of truss take their
load accordingly and reach the highest efficiency of the bridge. All are being
recorded to allow us to fix and analysis the bridge to reach higher efficiency.

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2.3 Model making & Design Development
The fettuccine is designed by hand drawn, so the fettuccine were follow up the
drawing on paper according to scale 1:1 for our model making.
Requirements
• To have a clear span of 350mm
• Not exceeding the weight of 80g
• Only material allowed is fettuccine and adhesive
• The bridge will tested to its limit
• Workmanship is put to consideration as part of aesthetic value
2.4 Structural Analysis
Structural analysis is a determination of the effects of load on the fettuccine bridge
and its members by calculation.
2.5 Bridge’s Efficiency Calculation
Efficiency of the bridge is calculated after it is tested to its limit by using a
formula: Efficiency, E= (Maximum load) / Mass of bridge
2.6 Introduction of Truss
Trusses are one of the most widely adopted structural designs, many times being
utilized as the structural solution of choice for bridges, roofs, cranes and so on.
A truss is defined as a structure built up of three or more members, which are
normally considered as being pinned or hinged at the various joints. Any loads which
are applied to the truss are usually transmitted to the joints, so that individual
members are in pure tension or compression. Tension is a force that acts to stretch
or pull an object. Compression is a force that acts to squeeze or push an object.
Figure 1.2 Compression and tension forces acting on hands.

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Compression and tension are present in all bridges, and as illustrated, they are both
capable of damaging part of the bridge as varying load weights and other forces act
on the structure. It's the job of the bridge design to handle these forces without
buckling or snapping. Buckling occurs when compression overcomes an object's
ability to endure that force. Snapping is what happens when tension surpasses an
object's ability to handle the lengthening force.
The best way to deal with these powerful forces is to either dissipate them or transfer
them. With dissipation, the design allows the force to be spread out evenly over a
greater area, so that no one spot bears the concentrated brunt of it. In another word,
the forces acting at each end of a member must be equal to avoid any failures.
2.7 Introduction of Pratt Truss
The Pratt truss is identified by a simple web arrangement of diagonals in tension and
verticals in compression, except for the hip verticals immediately adjacent to the
inclined end posts of the bridge. It was first developed in 1844 by Thomas Pratt and
his architect father, Caleb Pratt. The Pratt truss inspired a large number of variations
and modified subtypes during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Major
subtypes of the Pratt design included:
Figure 1.3 : Example of Truss bridge

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3.0 PRECEDENT STUDIES.
127th
Street Bridge at Cook Country , Illinois.
The 127th Street bridge at Cook Country, Illinois was built by Alfred Benesch and
Associates of Chicago, Illinois in the year 1968. The length of the bridge is 610.3 feet,
main span is up to 396 feet while the roadway width is 53.2 feet. This bridge stands
out because of it’s heavy skew which gives it a distinctive appearance that are not
found in most bridges.
The selected bridge comes from the Warren truss. The Warren truss consists of
longitudinal members joined only by angled cross-members that forms alternately.
There are many bracing connections to make the truss sustain each other. As well
as triangle designs are used in a Warren truss.
In order for us to build a bridge with using fettuccine, we have to be more
cautious of the material. What we have to look for on it is the stiffness of the
fettuccine. Besides that, by using fettuccine, it breaks easily. So, we have to also
consider the tension of the fettuccine. Fettuccine breaks when we compress it with
any type of load or weight. In conclusion, the shorter the truss, the better the
compression.
Moreover, each truss connections has bracings on it, it does not only makes
the truss connections strong but also holds it in place and makes the connection stiff
and secure.

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Figure 1 Diagonal Upright Pole. Figure 2 Bracing. Figure 3 Main Bracing.
Figure 4: Front view of the bridge. Figure 5: Side elevation view. Figure 6: Structures under the bridge.
LOAD
REACTION FORCE REACTION FORCE

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4.0 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS
4.1 Fettuccine (Main material)
Exploration has been made to 3 different types of fettuccine to determine their
strength and suitability for model making.
1) Kimball.
2) Arbella
Observation & Description; Observation & Description;
1)Flat profile. 1) Concave profile
2)Thin. 2) Heavy
3)Light . 3) Thin
4)Fragile. 4) Fragile
2) San Remo
Observation & Description;
1)Concave profile
2)Thick
3)Heavy
4)Strong

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4.2 Glue (Adhesive Material )
Exploration on several types of glue to tested on fettuccini to determine which one is
the most suitable as the adhesive in terms of Efficiency for model making.
Type of Glue Observation Analysis
UHU
Longer time to dry.
Easiest to use.
Joints are too flexible.
Capable to produce the
strongest bridge however
take long time to harden and
strengthen the bridge which
cause work efficiency
reduced.
3 SECONDS
Dries within 3 seconds.
Hard to use.
Joints are not strong enough.
Crack after a few days.
It has highest work efficiency
as it dries in few seconds
however it can’t produce a
strong joint bridge which
causes the final product joint
efficiency reduced. It also not
durable after few days.
VITALFIX
Takes time to dry.
Easy to use.
Cracks after a few days.
It was easy to use but has
the lowest work efficiency
among all super glue as it
takes longer time to dry but
works the same as a usual
super glue which shown that
it has low work efficiency and
not durable after few days.
UHU SUPERGLUE Easy to use.
Dries fast.Crack after a few
days.
High efficiency
It was easy to use and it also
dries fast after applying it on
joint which shown that work
efficiency is high. It was also
easy to use as it won’t leak
easily. This is also our final
decision of our choices.

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4.3 Fettuccine Testing
Brand Type of
Glue
200g 250g 400g 450g 600g 650g 800g 850g
Kimball UHU ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗
San
Remo
UHU ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗
Kimball UHU
Suoerglue
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗
San
Remo
UHU
Superglue
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗
Kimball 3
Seconds
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗
San
Remo
3
Seconds
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗
Table Above shows the analysis of strength on 2 different types of Fettuccine and 3 different
types of glue.
4.4 Equipment.
S HOOK BUCKET
S hook used to hang the load with the aid of basket on Fettuccini Bridge. Hence all
the force applied on one point of the bridge.

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WEIGHING MACHINE WATER BOTTLES
Water bottle acts as the load to test the strength of Fettuccine Bridge. Weighing
machine used to weigh the mass of fettuccine bridge to ensure that it is not
overweight / exceed the maximum weight of 80 grams.

13. 13
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
MODEL MAKING
Fettuccine is the only designated material that can be used for this project, therefore
the joint of the bridge and the arrangement of the bridge truss is the majorvariable
factors.Thedesign process involves the constant experimentation of different joints
and truss.
Based on the formula,
Efficiency = (Maximum load)2/Weight of bridge
Determine as square of maximum load applied on the bridge divide by the weight of
the bridge. In order to achieve efficiency, the bridge should be able to carry as much
as possible loads whereby the weight of the bridge have to be as light as possible.
After obtaining the result of the final load test. The efficiency of the bridge is them
calculated.
WORKING SCHELDULE
DATE DESCRIPTION
2nd
sept 15 Testing strength of fettuccine
5th
sept 15 Testing jointing layers and adhesive strength
9th
sept 15 First discussion and model making 1/Testing 1
18th
sept
15
Model making 2 & 3 /Testing 2&3
27th
sept
15
Final Model making
9th
0ct 15 Submission

14. 14
FETTUCCINE BRIDGE DESIGN I
The first model built for testing were based on the structure of a Howe Truss. The
bridge was designed and built in order to better understand the relationship between
the truss arrangement and the two types of internal force – compression and tension.
Total Length = 400 mm Clear Span = 350mm
Weight of Bridge = 75 g Load Sustained = 3391 g
Efficiency =
=
(3.391)2
0.075
153.3%

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Analysis
Design 1 achieve has a considerably high efficiency of 153.3%. Only two layers of
fettuccini was used in all the supporting load member in order create a bridge with
similar strength in all its members. This method is used to create a constant
throughout the bridge for further improvement later. The members prematurely snap
before we were able to find out the total load it could sustain.
At this stage, the bridges are also tested with different amount of time passed after
completion in order to have an estimation of the corrosion rate of the binding glue on
the fettuccine.
Problem Identification
• Poor workmanship
• Two Layers of fettuccine in a members is insufficient
• Corrosion caused by 3 second glue to the fettuccine weaken the stacking
members and causes the bridge to break easily.
Problem Solving
• Design a triangle bridge to compensate the material weight in the increased
numbers fettuccine layer in the supporting members
• Construction of the bridge should be timed with the testing of the bridge
according to the estimated data on the glue corrosion rate.

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References:
Nakate, S. (2013, January 25). Truss Bridge Design. Retrieved September 13, 2015,
from Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/truss-bridge-design.html
North Carolina Department of Transportation. (2013, June). Types of Bridge. Retrieved
September 12, 2015, from NCDOT:
http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/ncbridges/historic/types/?p=17
Truss. (n.d.). Retrieved 12 September, 2015, from
http://www.highlandsnj.us/BridgeUpdates/AboutBridges/BridgesTypes/Bridge%20Types
%20-%20Truss.html
What is truss bridge? (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2015, from Pennsylvania
Transportation & Heritage: http://www.paprojectpath.org/historic-truss-bridges