Yiqing Xiong 621784

As we thought, the base of the

tower should be stable and not easy

to be distorted, so that could be the

reason we all agreed to use triangles

and built like a pyramid. We tried to

build with different dimension of

triangles, like the trusses which is

based on the geometric rigidity of

the triangles.

The several small circles in the

bottom left picture have suggested

the fixed joints in this whole

structure; it has maintained the

angular relationship among the

balsa woods, and it has provided the

resistance of force and moment in

this structure, which is significant

for the upper structure building.

WEEK 2 Friday 9th Aug, 2013

Tutorial activities---Building a tower using balsa wood

From the details of this part, it can be seen as the

surface connector with superglue. As for the whole

project, the majority of the connectors are the

surface connectors.

Yiqing Xiong 621784

The photo on the top shows the final

tower for this activity, nearly 70cm. The

whole tower has divided into three parts.

For the base, it has built like pyramid and

bigger than the other part. The middle of

the tower is vertical to the ground and

consists of three same dimensions of

squares, then; the top of the tower is

tapered towards a point. This can be seen

as a freestanding structure, the wide base

provides adequate stiffness and strength

to the whole structure and the tapered

structure reduces mass and wind load on

the top.

The two circles in the picture uses in the

same structure and shape, which can

provide a buffer between the structure

changing areas.

This is the part left after the

deconstruction, which has

indicated that this part is the

strongest and firmest for the

whole structure.