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About the Book |
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Designing
and Building File-Folder Bridges: A Problem-Based Introduction
to Engineering provides students with an opportunity to
learn how engineers use math, science, and technology to design
real structures--in the context of a hands-on model bridge-building
project. It is intended primarily for high school students,
but those in lower grades should be able to complete all but
Learning Activity #3, which requires the application of geometry,
algebra, and some basic trigonometry.
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Manila
file folders provide an excellent building material for model
bridges. They are inexpensive and easy to work with. More importantly,
the structural behavior of bridges made of file-folder cardboard
is surprisingly realistic. |
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Contents |
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Designing
and Building File-Folder Bridges contains the following
chapters, which you may download at no cost:
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Learning
Activity #1: Build a Model of a Truss Bridge [10.0
MB]. Build a model bridge from cardboard file folders, and
test it for adequate strength. Learn bridge terminology,
construction techniques, and some basic concepts in physics
and structural engineering. (No special knowledge of math
or science required.)
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Full-Scale
Layout Drawing for Learning Activity #1:
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Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format [2.0
MB] |
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Autocad (.dwg) format [81
KB] |
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Learning
Activity #2: Test Structural Members [2.9 MB]. Use
experimental testing to determine the strength of structural
members made of file-folder cardboard--the same material used
to build the bridge model in Learning Activity #1. Learn basic
concepts in engineering mechanics, as well as procedures for
designing and conducting experiments. (Requires basic arithmetic
skills and the ability to create a graph, preferably with a
computer spreadsheet.) |
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Learning
Activity #3: Analyze and Evaluate a Truss [2.8 MB].
Calculate the internal member forces in the model truss bridge,
then evaluate the structural safety of the truss. Learn more
advanced concepts in physics and engineering mechanics. (Requires
the application of geometry, algebra, and trigonometry.)
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Learning
Activity #4: Design a Bridge with a Computer [2.2 MB].
Design a full-scale highway truss bridge using the West Point
Bridge Designer (Version 4) software. Learn the engineering
design process, learn how actual bridges are designed and built,
and reinforce many of the basic structural engineering concepts
learned in previous activities. (No special knowledge of
math or science required.) |
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Learning
Activity #5: Design and Build a Model Truss Bridge [1.5
MB]. Apply knowledge from the previous four activities to design,
build, and test a model truss bridge. |
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Appendix
A: A Gallery of Truss Bridges [2.4 MB]. A collection
of photographs showing actual truss bridges from all over the
United States. |
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Appendix
B: A Compendium of Structural
Analysis Results [1.1 MB]. A tool that enables
students who have not had geometry or trigonometry (and thus
cannot do Learning Activity #3) to be able to successfully complete
Learning Activity #5. |
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Appendix
C: Building the Testing
Machine [485 KB]. How to construct the simple
lever-based testing machine used in Learning Activity #2. |
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Appendix
D: Glossary
[296 KB]. A review of key terminology used elsewhere in
the book. |
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To view
and print this book, you must have Version 5 of Adobe
Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Designing
and Building File-Folder Bridges is in the public domain.
You may
copy and distribute Designing and Building File-Folder
Bridges without restriction. However, we strongly encourage
you to buy copies from the Government Printing Office, as
described at right. Your purchase will help ensure that the
book remains available in the future.
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