B17-4 - CE1101A Calculation Report

CE1101A Civil Engineering Principles and Practice
Floating Bridge
Calculation Report
Group T25-4
AY2019-2020
Names Contribution
Responsible for overall group coordination, contributed to ideation, calculation
Torana
of pontoon and post-test discussion
Theepa Vishali Overall construction of project, Contributed to ideation and creation of bridge
Kanisan and pontoon. Helped in pontoon calculations and post-test discussion.
Overall mathematical calculations. Overall ideation and creation of truss and
Wang ZhongYu
pontoon.
Bukalini D/O Responsible for overall construction for project. Hydraulics and Truss
Sembian calculations.
State the contribution of each member to the overall project.
Rename the file according to your Group Number and save it as a PDF,
“B11-1_CE1101A Calculation Report.pdf” for example.
Marks will be deducted for any non-compliance.

CE1101A: Calculation Report Group B00-0
Contents
1. Executive Summary............................................................................................................3
2. Calculation of Truss Bridge................................................................................................4
3. Calculation of Floating Piers..............................................................................................5
4. Post-Test Discussion...........................................................................................................6
Page 2 of 14
1. Executive Summary
1.1 Description
The floating bridge will span across a distance of 450 meters connecting Marina Bay East
and West. It will be 25 meters wide. The model bridge, is scaled down to a scale of 1:500.
1.2 Truss Bridge
Figure 1
The Double Howe Truss is selected for its statical determinacy, low self-weight and unique
design. The truss has to be statically determinate to use the engineering principles of statics
and equations of equilibrium to perform calculations for forces within the members of the
truss.
Figure 2
For a truss to be statically determinate it has to fulfil the Maxwell Truss Equation.
Using Maxwell’s truss equations (Figure 2), the plane truss of the bridge can be proven to be
statically determinate to ensure that there are no redundant members. This would help to
maximise the weight ratio of the load to the bridge and the cost efficiency of the bridge. The
Double Howe Truss, has 20 members, 3 support reactions and 12 joints (Figure 1).
Substituting
the values into
Page 3 of 14
the Maxwell truss equation, it is proven that m=2j-r, showing that the bridge is statically
determinate.
The Double Howe Truss is also unique with its triangular shape, which can act as a roof to
provide shelter to its users, Figure 3.
Figure 3
1.3 Floating Pier
The truss bridge will be supported by two floating piers, separated by a distance of 250
meters. The floating piers will support the truss and allow for passage of ships under the
bridge. Figure 4 shows a 3D model sketch of the floating pier. In the model PET bottles were
placed inside the base encapsulated. This prevents flooding of the base of the pier that could
potentially cause sinking.
15.4 cm
Base
13.2 cm
5.3 cm
Page 4 of 14
2. Calculation of Truss Bridge
2.1 Single Load
Page 5 of 14
Page 6 of 14
In summary of Truss under single loading of 50kN:
D
-128N
C E
25N -128N 25N
B 0N 50N F
-128N 0N 0N
0N
A G
128N L 125N K 125N J I H
50kN
The members on the top of the truss all experience a compressive force of 128N
and the members forming the base experience a tensile force of 125N.
Members AB, BC, CD (along with their symmetrical counter parts) are
expected fail first. As bamboo is better build to withstand tensile forces as
compared to compressive forces. This hypothesis will be discussed in further in
the post-test discussion section.
Page 7 of 14
2.2 Double Load Calculations
Page 8 of 14
3. Calculation of Floating Piers
Page 9 of 14
Page 10 of 14
Page 11 of 14
Page 12 of 14
4. Post-Test Discussion
4.1 Hydraulics test of bridge

At smaller weights the bridge could float and was stable, as it was increased the bridge got
more and more unstable.
The entire floating bridge could self-float while holding a maximum weight of 100g. This
meant that the meta centre of the structure was above the centre of gravity, and there was a
restoring moment due to buoyancy force at 100 grams.
4.2 Bridge testing with point load

Following the scale of 1:500 the model bridge was expected to be able to withstand a point
load of about 10kg. However, the bridge was only able to withstand a point load of 2.4kg.
The weight of the model bridge is 60grams. This would make the ratio of the load to the
weight of the bridge 40.
As seen in the figure below, the members at the top (in the blue outline), that experience the
compressive forces of 128N, started to deform severely when the load was about 1.9kg of
sand. The members that are at the bottom (in the red outline), that experience tensile forces
have deformed to a smaller extent.
The figure below shows a picture of the bridge at the exact moment it fails. The figure above
shows that as expected, the failure of member BC along with AB and CD lead to the failure
of the truss.
Page 13 of 14
4.2.1 Improvements for bridge

During the testing, it was noticed that the bridge started to tilt more and more in the
direction shown in the figure below. This was because of sub-standard construction
quality that lead to the bridge being un-level. This could have contributed to the
bending and twisting of the bridge that could have caused a reduction in weight of
sand that the bridge could withstand.
Better construction method could have allowed the bridge to withstand a higher load.
The pontoon could have been made with a more water-resistant material as the
when the cardboard got wet, it started to fall apart.
Page 14 of 14

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CE1101A Civil Engineering Principles and Practice

State the contribution of each member to the overall project.

“B11-1_CE1101A Calculation Report.pdf” for example.

Marks will be deducted for any non-compliance.

2. Calculation of Truss Bridge................................................................................................4

3. Calculation of Floating Piers..............................................................................................5

1.2 Truss Bridge

the values into

provide shelter to its users, Figure 3.

1.3 Floating Pier

potentially cause sinking.

2. Calculation of Truss Bridge

2.1 Single Load

In summary of Truss under single loading of 50kN:

expected fail first. As bamboo is better build to withstand tensile forces as

compared to compressive forces. This hypothesis will be discussed in further in

the post-test discussion section.

2.2 Double Load Calculations

3. Calculation of Floating Piers

4.1 Hydraulics test of bridge

more and more unstable.

restoring moment due to buoyancy force at 100 grams.

4.2 Bridge testing with point load

4.2.1 Improvements for bridge

sand that the bridge could withstand.

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