EMILY PRUSAKOWSKI
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE | BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

This project was completed in Structural Principles in Architecture during the Fall 2023 semester and focused on experimenting with bridge and truss designs using Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper to analyze structural integrity. While a previous assignment determined that the crescent bridge was the strongest structurally, I opted for a different design based on personal preference and additional research. After reviewing videos of students constructing and testing spaghetti bridges, I found that certain bridge shapes consistently supported the most weight while minimizing fragility, which influenced my final decision.

Using Grasshopper, I analyzed my chosen bridge design and determined that its mass was 66,895.39, with a maximum displacement of 0.880532.

To accurately translate the digital model into a physical structure, I assigned a numerical value to each beam size, maintaining proportions based on the thickness in Rhino. The thickest beams consisted of 20 spaghetti noodles, while the thinnest used 5 noodles. After scaling the bridge to 3 feet, I began assembly, securing the noodles with rubber bands and reinforcing the joints, recognized as the weakest points, with an excess of hot glue to enhance structural stability.