Popsicle Stick Bridge

[chris101010]

I'm considering drafting a few bridges made of simply popsicle sticks (about 1000) and dental floss (about 10-15 metres). If anyone has ideas concerning how to create the strongest, lightest or just one that may be able to take the most weight, I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks a lot.

 

[breaks]

I've never built a popsicle stick bridge, but here's a site that might help:

http://www.montrealmirror.com/old/mar022000/news6.html

My oh-so-helpful advice would be to use trusses (I would think below the bridge deck) built using triangles to distribute the loads. Most old wooden railroad bridges were built using this method, and railway loadings are among the heaviest with which bridge engineers have to deal.

Work out the truss loads for a few bridge ideas on paper (or computer) before deciding on one to go with. And you may be able to get some ideas by checking out some pictures of some old wooden railroad bridges.

Good luck!