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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2015/10/the-challenge-to-build-bridge-using.html">The Challenge to Build a Bridge Using Nothing but Weak Wood</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Written </span><span style="text-align: right;">By: Julien Thomas</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Students
from the Engineering Mechanics class were assigned a very thin and frail sheet
of Balsa wood (1/8”*4”*36”) and told to construct a bridge using their
knowledge on trusses and forces. The real challenge, here was trying to build a
structurally sound system that could withstand a reasonable amount of force.
This task was further complicated by the fact that the bridge itself would be
very light (typically less than an ounce), and when a load is applied onto the
bridge, the individual members of the trusses would experience the force in
tension or compression diagonally, vertically or horizontally. This made for an
interesting test to see how well students could implement their knowledge of
two force members in a truss and how well they could use that knowledge
practically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
students were given one sheet of wood per group along with paper clips and told
to build their bridges, using standard designs such as the Howe truss and Pratt
truss. After building their bridges, they competed to see which bridge could
hold the most sand, as a load, before breaking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Astonishingly enough, some
bridges could hold over 20 pounds before breaking. It is amazing to see how, by
applying engineering principles, common expectations and assumptions regularly
associated with materials can be exceeded or challenged. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Engineering student, Jonathan had
more to say about the experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Editor’s Synopsis:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Each semester, student’s from the
Engineering Mechanics (</span><span class="st">EGM 3420C) class, are given the
arduous task of creating a structurally sound bridge from the extremely
lightweight wood from the Balsa tree. Though restricted to using traditional
bridge designs, students are allowed to explore the full extent of their
imagination with the aim of displaying their ingenuity while conveying their
knowledge of bridge design. It is interesting to see the end results, as some
of these bridges were able to withstand forces that were a lot more than one
would expect them to be able to bear.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">University Articles of Interest:</span></h4>
<a href="http://blogs.fgcu.edu/engineering/2015/10/23/balsa-bridge-testing/">FGCU Engineering Blog - Balsa Bridge Test</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 22.82666778564453px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2015/10/the-challenge-to-build-bridge-using.html" style="line-height: 22.82666778564453px; text-align: center;">The Challenge to Build a Bridge Using Nothing but Weak Wood</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2015/07/excellence-in-civil-engineering.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Excellence in Civil Engineering Education</a><br /><span class="st"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2015/05/fgcus-asce-student-chapter-has-been.html" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">FGCU's ASCE Student Chapter has been selected to receive Honorable Mention!</a></span><br /><span class="st"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2015/04/fgcu-students-win-titanic-award.html" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">FGCU Students Win "Titanic" Award!</a></span><br /><span class="st"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2015/04/fgcu-engineering-students-participate.html" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">FGCU Engineering Students Participate in Cape Coral Cardboard Regatta Competition - April 18, 2015</a></span><br /><span class="st"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2015/04/fgcu-civil-engineering-students-reveal.html" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">FGCU Civil Engineering Students Reveal Redesign for Ponce de Leon Park</a></span><br /><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2014/08/nsf-engineers-grant-co-pis-dr-tanya.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">NSF ENGINEERS GRANT –Co PI’s Dr. Tanya Kunberger and Dr. R. Christopher Geiger</a><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2014/11/dr-lisa-zidek.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lisa A. Zidek is the Associate Dean</a></span><br /><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2014/08/selective-program-for-internships.html" style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Selective Program for Internships</a><br /><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2014/11/brief-bio-of-richard-behr-engineering.html" style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Brief Bio of Richard Behr, Engineering Dean at Florida Gulf Coast University</a><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2014/11/allow-me-to-introduce-myself-my-name-is.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Allow me to introduce myself - My name is Lynn See</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.universityvu.com/2015/05/stem-scholars-year-end-challenge.html" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">STEM Scholars Year-End Challenge</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Medical Articles of Interest:</span></h4>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.naples-md.com/2014/11/non-invasive-skin-tightening-still-not.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Non Invasive Skin Tightening still 'not quite there'</a><a href="http://www.naples-md.com/2014/11/loose-dentures-think-dental-implants.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Loose Dentures?  Think Dental Implants</a><a href="http://www.naples-md.com/2014/09/zirconium-new-leader-in-dentistry.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Zirconium, The New Leader in Dentistry</a><a href="http://www.naples-md.com/2014/08/more-research-needed-to-validate-stem.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">More research needed to validate Stem Cell use for Cosmetic surgery</a><a href="http://www.naples-md.com/2014/07/early-detection-key-to-surviving-oral.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Early Detection Key to Surviving Oral Cancer</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Real Estate Articles of Interest:</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.realestate-vu.com/2015/04/buyers-shift-focus-to-condominium.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Buyers Shift Focus to Condominium Market 1st Qtr 2015</a></span></u><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.realestate-vu.com/2015/03/naples-real-estate-area-february-2015.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Naples Real Estate Area February 2015 Market Report</a></span></u><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.realestate-vu.com/2015/02/naples-real-estate-area-january-2015.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Naples Real Estate Area January 2015 Market Report</a></span></u><a href="http://www.realestate-vu.com/2014/10/low-inventory-impacts-market-naples.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Low Inventory Impacts Market Naples Florida</span></a><a href="http://www.realestate-vu.com/2014/11/real-estate-brokers-business-philosophy.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Real Estate Brokers Business Philosophy</span></a><a href="http://www.realestate-vu.com/2014/12/naples-real-estate-november-2014-market.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Naples Real Estate November 2014 Market Report</span></a><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://news.realestatemls.com/2014/12/selling-your-home-clean-repair-purge.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Selling Your Home Clean Repair Purge</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Other Videos of Interest:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6mOr1LlHjk" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Botox Doctors Naples</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-nmyzrccbI" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Naples Dentists</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elN3mg0_aMA" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Real Estate Video Production</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt62VeXVvWc" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Real Estate Marketing</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po1DATCau14" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Naples Web Design</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhRNtRCc3Tk" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Digital Marketing Company</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0qBabVGfJk" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Naples Real Estate</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_fk4m7EPEA" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Dental Scrap</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHy0KXXBJzg" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Real Estate</span></a></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Other Services of Interest:</span></h4>
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<a href="http://vustudios.com/" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Real Estate & Aerial Drone Photography</span></span></a></div>
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The Challenge to Build a Bridge Using Nothing but Weak Wood

The Challenge to Build a Bridge Using Nothing but Weak Wood Written By: Julien Thomas Students from the Engineering Mechanics cl...

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The Challenge to Build a Bridge Using Nothing but Weak Wood

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