What Bridge Design Holds the Most Weight?
Probably the question I get asked the most is “What bridge design holds the most weight?” or “What bridge design is the strongest?”
The answer to that question is not simple and probably is not going to be what you expect. The truth is, I cannot answer the question. There are too many variables that are not being defined.
Example:
Is the the Pratt truss or the Warren truss stronger? Actually, the answer is up to you. You can make the Warren truss stronger. Or you can make the Pratt stronger. It depends simply on the strength of the wood you use. You can use 2×4′s to build the Warren, and toothpicks to build the Pratt. Obviously the Warren is going to be stronger in this case.
A Better Question
I think though, many people are trying to ask whether or not one of these trusses has an inherent advantage over the others. In my mind, none of them do. If you look at my truss design page, you will see that each truss spreads a load out differently, but none with an apparent advantage. Conclusion: no bridge design has an inherent strength over another.
However, this conclusion only applies to this general setting. It may be that in a specific situation one bridge design would be better suited than another. It is up to you to examine how each truss works and decide which one to use.
I am making a bridge with only 4 lasagna noodles, 15 rigatoni, 10 penne, 25 spaghetti noodles. Wit would be the best design. And has to be tape to card board
Yea.. I’m in eighth grade, and we have to build an at least 80 cm bridge that can hold at least 30 lbs… within 2 weeks.
Does anyone know the strongest type of truss to use for a bridge that will be supporting a hanging a mass in the centre?
Pratt truss…Design simple and build perfect
im in year 7 and i need to build a bridge that has to be 65cm long, 10cm high. it has to be 200 grams it than has to hold the weight of a road that is 750grams and a trolly that has to be 910grams.(it has to be made from dried spaghetti
Im in 8th grade and in industrial tech we are building bridges out of little rods made of balsic wood i need the best type of bridge that would most likely hold the most weight im thinking a cablestayed with 25 pound fishing line.
I am in the 8th grade and I am required to build a brigde along with 3 up-sides of the bridge I make.
For my grade 8 scince fair im dioin a project with bridges and i deffiantly suggest the flat truss!
i have to make one that’s 11 inches and holds more than 25 lb and i’m in 6th grade
I created an expirement for my fourth grade science fair that tested both the flat truss and the warred truss using the exact same materials; balsa wood and glue. The flat truss held up 46.3 pounds of water, the warren only held 30.9. They both were across a span of eleven inches and in the end I only had chunks of demolished bridge…
LOL. That would be my result!
What types of materials can you use to make a drawbridge that can hold the weight of many cars at one time?
I haven’t been lucky enough to see many drawbridges but up in Portland Oregon they are mostly steel (the parts that raise and lower)
and concrete at the pillars that hold the bridge up.