Construction: Building and Beams

Instructional Guide

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During this unit you are going to:

Explore forces that act on structures. Discover the strength of a beam varies. Design, construct, test, and evaluate paper beams.

Forces

Compression - The act, process, or result of pressing or squeezing together. Tension - The act or action of being stretched or the condition of being stretched.

Beam Efficiency
Beam Efficiency = Weight Beam Held X 100 Weight of Beam

Design Challenge
You are a structural engineer and you are helping your parents design a family room addition to a house that has a deck on the roof. The challenge is to design a deck strong enough to support family and friends. You will create the strongest beam possible. A successful beam will support family, friends and the deck itself. The strength/efficiency of the beam will be determined by dividing the final load by the beams weight.

Engineering Design Process

Step 1 Identify a challenge

What is the challenge?

Brainstorm ways of constructing the beams out of one sheet of paper.

Step 2 Explore Ideas

Draw end and side views of two possible beams.

Identify a challenge

Step 3 Plan and Develop

Sketch the best idea. Sketch a refined design.

Identify a challenge

Explore Ideas

Step 4 Testing and Evaluating

How much weight did it hold? What can you do to make it stronger? Revise and draw design.
What changes did you make? What are the differences from the first design?

Which design was better? Why?

Identify a challenge Explore Ideas Plan and Develop

Step 5 Presenting the Solution

What are the final dimensions,

weight, and load? Determine the efficiency. List the materials used. How well did the project go?
Would you change anything?
Identify a challenge
Explore Ideas Plan and Develop Testing and Evaluating

Conclusion

Compare all of the beams with the class.

How are they different? How are they similar? How could they be made better?

Discuss and design a final beam with the whole class.