Putting Materials Together

How strong are different structures? What are the advantages of different shapes?

Strength depends on:

• material properties,
• geometry (e.g., the shape of a cross-section of the material),
• the nature and placement of support.

What about these structures?

These products were engineered using carbon fiber composites to be light, yet very strong. How do the material properties, geometry and support placement give each product strength?

For projects that explore strength vs. geometry see:

• Are Laminates Stronger?,
• The Design Process: Creating a Stronger Truss,
• The Leaning Tower of Pasta and
• Stressed Out? Take a Break with this Project!