Thesis Statement: The truss bridge is an ideal bridge because of it's triangular structure/ design. The triangular design gives the bridge tremendous strength making it ideal for heavy loads, which is why I will be testing this particular bridge. The truss bridge is a type of bridge whose most important piece is a truss, which is a structure of connected elements that produce triangular units. Its main purpose is to transfer loads. My experiment will be testing this type of bridge's strength. The type of bridge that I will specifically be testing is the Pratt truss bridge. It has many advantages that support its strength such as its triangular structure, being economical to build, and having increased span.
The Pratt truss bridge was patented in 1844
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The materials used to create truss bridges are minimal. This type of bridge uses materials effectively, they are considered light but strong. They also use inexpensive materials and does no compromising on their grounds.
The properties of a triangular shape allow trusses to span across longer distances. For example, a square sided roof would usually twist or shift while a triangular one would keep its shape, which ultimately prevents sagging and shifting. These bridges can be built in difficult places, across long or small spans while still keeping its strength. Basically, anywhere a bridge is needed, a truss bridge will do the job.
In conclusion, the truss bridge is an ideal bridge because due to its triangular structure/ design, especially the Pratt bridge. The triangular design gives the bridge tremendous strength making it ideal for heavy loads. The truss is the structure of connected elements that produce triangular units making the bridge strong. These bridges can be built in difficult places, across long or small spans while still keeping its strength. So, because of those advantages the truss bridges are common and still being used