Design a Wooden Bridge

Current paper presents the interpretation, definition, analysis, selection, implementation, and evaluation of a tessellated wooden design. In simple terms, tessellation is the creation of shapes by repeating a particular form frequently without leaving a gap between them. In other words, tessellation is the tiling of shapes. On the other hand, tiling occurs when specific tiles are fitted together leaving neither a gap nor an overlap to fill a flat shape like ceiling, wall, or floor (VanBaren 2017). Therefore, this paper aims at discussing the results of a wooden arch bridge that I have designed.

The main frame of the bridge consists of two straight base rails moving from one end to the other. All other structures act as reinforcement. The ideation of using the arch and triangles can be explained by the fact that triangles and spherical shapes are strong enough for distributing stress and withstanding pressure. In my design, the role of an arch is to distribute weight. When the triangles hold the main frame, they pull the arch downwards, the dome can distribute its stiffness towards its endpoints moving the main pressure of frame from the center to the edges. Such structure prevents the bridge from collapsing.

Naming the Design

In naming, we assess the number of tiled shapes. In this case it is a triangle shape. This process starts by identifying the vertex of the design (Alejandre). In our arch bridge, the vertex is the point where the supporting frames meet with the arch at the center. From the vertex, we look at the polygons that touch the vertex and identify the number of sides they have. In our design, the polygon is a triangle, which means that there are three sides. In total, the number of such triangles touching the vertex is ten. The model is as follows: 3.3.3.3.3.3.3.3.3.3

Ideation and Challenges

The number of tessellations depends on the amount of weight that the bridge is required to bear. In this design, I intended to have the weight distributed from one point by ten channels. By doing so, I ensured that the amount of pressure and tension that could have concentrated at the center is reduced and distributed evenly.

Strengths and Challenges

The primary challenge I faced in developing the design was balancing between using fewer rods to reduce bridge weight and ensuring firmness. For instance, the bridge could have needed more rods to distribute further weight carried from the vertex by the triangles. Another challenge is the material in use. Wood, as compared to metal, is not efficient in preciseness and weight distribution. The disadvantage of wood is that it may not be rigid and hence unable to transfer weight to the attached frame.

Taking into account the material used and the estimated weight the bridge could bear, I was able to observe that when there is a placement of load at the center of the frame-base, much pressure was distributed at the bridge edges. As a result, I was able to ascertain that the tessellation distributed the bridge weight successfully.

In conclusion, tessellation, as seen in this paper, is a process that can be used to find solutions in real life situations. The theory can be helpful while constructing the bridges, such as the one highlighted in this paper, when it is difficult to construct ground-touching pillars. Therefore, tessellation requires one to ensure that all polygons are located in correct places and connected with each other