3DCP: STRUCTURE BUILDING

Structure building involved problem solving and patience, the idea of building a bridge from cardboard to support a remote control car would be an exploration of trial and error but most importantly overcoming and adapting to problems that may occur. 

Before the building process, primary research was carried out by extracting ideas and taking inspiration from other architectural buildings in the environment. These photos were taken around Ravensbourne and North Greenwich since there is a lot of construction and tall buildings. 

After research was collected individually, we had to work in groups to create our bridge. There were many criteria points the design had to include such as supporting the weight of the car so that it could make it across the bridge, it had to be raised in the middle to imitate a 'a boat' going underneath it and could only have two supports touching the floor. The only equipment used was bamboo, elastic bands, tape and cardboard.
The difficulty before even making was communicating ideas with every team member so that they understood design visions being put across. One idea was communicated for the main bridge design and diagrams and physical demonstrations had to be carried out for everyone to understand what the outcome would be. This is difficult since projecting mental visions can be hard to be put on paper.
After a breakdown of design, roles were assigned to those who thought their skills would suit specific tasks. This increased the efficiency since no one was working on the same task and the workload was spread.

The initial design was to have a curving road near the end of the bridge, with an elevating road at the beginning so that it peaked high enough for the bridge to pass through. Aesthetics of the bridge included using the bamboo to create triangular structures for the side of the beginning part of the bridge. Elastic bands were tied together to create a cobweb type effect between the bamboo to create an interesting appearance.

Since we had the dimensions of the car, we measure 10cm more for the width of the cardboard squares so that the car had enough space to turn on the curving part of the bridge. Cardboard squares were measured and cut out. To test the cardboard 'slates' they were taped to the table to imitate the curving. This helped to identify whether the design needed to be adapted, it helped analyse that the curving bridge needed sides otherwise the car would fly of when turning.

The sides of the beginning part of the bridge were inspired by Tower Bridge, it's triangular shapes were created by using two bamboo sticks binding together with elastic bands for one side so that it would be more strong than just one. To attach each bamboo side, it was more effective to put the bamboo in the middle of each piece rather than next to each other since it made it more connected. Further on in the process we found that the bamboo needed tape wrapped around the connecting parts since the elastic bands made it quite springy and they moved out of place more. 

In between the bamboo parts, elastic bands were tied together to create its geometric cobweb effect to add a design element to the bridge which worked well however if the tension between the bands was too much they would ping off from underneath the tape. 

At first there was a bamboo supporting structure underneath the front of the bridge, made from two bamboo sticks to form a point. However we found later on in the process that the end of the bridge with the curving road was too heavy and needed two supports on just that part. The front supporting point was pulled back with an elastic band connected to the metal poles underneath the table. This then meant we could have the two supports at the end where they were needed more.

Although after the structure was taken away, the front started to dip too low which meant the boat could not pass through. To overcome this, a bamboo stick was added each side and attached to the part that was slanting with tape and leveraged the bridge by pulling it back with the sticks and securing these to the table with plenty of tape.
The main support was an accumulation of bamboo sticks with a cross at the top dispersed like a fan to support the areas along the curve. The only support was one stick near the end of the bridge where the car would eventually go down to reach the table.

The final stages of the bridge making process was to add cardboard slates to the beginning of the bridge between the bamboo. A concern was that the car would fall out along this but with enough elastic bands the large gaps were closed to inhibit this.
Long cardboard strips were also added to the sides of the curving bridge.

In the video it shows that the bridge supported the weight of the car however the sides of the curved bridge were not tall or solid enough to stop the car flying off the end. When put back on, the car struggled to turn down the curving bridge since the turning room was still not enough although the car did eventually make it to the other side. The bridge was successful in support and aesthetics but could be adapted to make the curve of the road more smooth for the car to go down by making it either wider or less curved.