Spaghetti Bridge

[banderso]

I am helping my sister build a bridge out of spaghetti for an extra credit school project. The rules are that the bridge must span a 30cm gap and may extend 10cm below the gap. The bridge doesn't need to have a 'road', it just needs to support weight. A 3/4 inch dowell will go on top of the bridge in the middle to load the weight. I though some folks on here might have some good design ideas. What do you think the strongest/most efficient (load capacity per mass of spaghetti) design is?

 

[SCW]

When I did this in school I used a Pratt style truss. But I suck as pure structures and focused on water treatment and hydraulics in school instead....

I'm sure a google search will get you several styles of trusses. Use plenty of size on the top and bottom chords and get good triangulation.

 

[JXPEEJ]

:roll:For best results use the spaghetti right out of the box. Don't cook it. If you
cook it, do like my wife does and get it all stuck together in a lump.

 

[PosiDave]

i did this with toothpicks and used an arc bridge and it held the most out of anyone in the school.

 

[banderso]

Thanks for the sugestions. I think this might be a fun little project. I did do a google search and a came up with some designs but a lot of them did not have a place for the dowell that the weight will be suspended from. I will look up Pratt style truss because I don't know what that is. As for the arc suggestion, I like that a lot and it is something we had thought about. Only problem is that we can find spaghetti long enough to make an arc to span the 30 cm gap.

 

[WaXJ_Skier]

Thanks for the sugestions. I think this might be a fun little project. I did do a google search and a came up with some designs but a lot of them did not have a place for the dowell that the weight will be suspended from. I will look up Pratt style truss because I don't know what that is. As for the arc suggestion, I like that a lot and it is something we had thought about. Only problem is that we can find spaghetti long enough to make an arc to span the 30 cm gap.

Theres a way you can make an arc by weaving straight pieces together. its pretty cool. I did something like this once I'll see if I can find anything and I'll post it here.

 

[banderso]

Theres a way you can make an arc by weaving streight pies together. its pretty cool. I did something like this once I'll see if I can find anything and I'll post it here.

That would be great. Thanks. We tried to come up with something like that but I didn't have any ideas that I thought would be strong enough.

Also, I just found this. Kind of helpful and fun. Build a virtual truss and look at the forces on it: http://www.jhu.edu/~virtlab/bridge/bridge.htm

 

[JohnX]

Only problem is that we can find spaghetti long enough to make an arc to span the 30 cm gap.

Any rules against pressing your own?

You could do some quick experiments with different recipes to get the "strongest" noodles before you even start.

 

[XJ Dreamin']

Theres a way you can make an arc by weaving straight pieces together. its pretty cool. I did something like this once I'll see if I can find anything and I'll post it here.

That's from China, if that helps shorten the search. What channel did that big China show a few years ago? I don't remember specifically, but somebody produced a show where they constructed a modern copy of this type of bridge, weaving straight timbers into an arched bridge.

 

[KarlVP]

Build a triangle.

 

[WaXJ_Skier]

I would recommend using pieces about 1" in length. longer pieces are going to flex too much and Spaghetti brittle so its going to flex then snap

 

[WaXJ_Skier]

That's from China, if that helps shorten the search. What channel did that big China show a few years ago? I don't remember specifically, but somebody produced a show where they constructed a modern copy of this type of bridge, weaving straight timbers into an arched bridge.

I watched that and duplicated it @ one point I think it was a PBS special or something.

 

[WaXJ_Skier]

I blame this thread for my lunch. I had Spaghetti on my mind when I went to go get lunch half an hour ago

 

[RichP]

Dip each spaghetti noodle in flat satin poly varnish and let dry....they will bend a tad more before breaking

 

[XJ Dreamin']

I watched that and duplicated it @ one point I think it was a PBS special or something.

Could have been. Heck, at my age 'a few years ago' could've been 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. I wouldn't know the difference anymore

 

[XJ Dreamin']

Dip each spaghetti noodle in flat satin poly varnish and stick them together before they dry....you'll be able to drive your xj over the mofo*

ficksed

*You'll need about 2 tons of spagetti for an XJ capable spagetti bridge.

 

[RTicUL8]

Go watch this movie!

 

[XJ Dreamin']

Go watch this movie!

Too damn long, and there's not enough sword work. I give it :star: :star: :star:

 

[89Daytona]

Is there a weight limit, size limit, or limit to the amount or type of noodle used?

Overlapping joints (kinda like wood floors or siding creates stronger spans. You could dip the bridge in epoxy or gorilla glue.

Go watch this movie!

That movie is full of lies...

 

[RTicUL8]

That movie is full of lies...

and deceit, and suspense, and action, and plot twists, and... :thumbup:

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I was actually recommending the bridge design in the movie because of the straight lines - think spaghetti.

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