Spreadsheet Instructions

 


                                                     

 

 

 

                                                         

 

When first clicking on the spreadsheet, you will have the option to open or save. Choose to save and save the program to your computer. You will need to this to make the "solver" available to you. At this point, there will be various colored tabs at the bottom. Students will select the proper sheet depending on the number of planks they intend to use for the construction of their bridge. For example, if they decide to use 10 planks they would choose the pink tab which is titled “bridge with 10.”

 

 

 

 


This section of the spreadsheet details the instructions for the cable.

 

Text Box: In this portion of the spreadsheet students will input their variables for the bridge that they are planning to build. The bridge span is the length from column to column. The input for bridge span must be less than the cable length. If the cable is not strong enough, the cable safety factor will turn red. The anchor line column does not need to be input, it will adjust automatically. All input values are measured in inches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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This section of the spreadsheet details the instructions for the columns.

 

Text Box: This is the portion of the spreadsheet where the students will enter data about the columns. For nylon poles, the inner diameter will be zero. For acrylic or PVC they will need to enter both an outer and inner diameter. Young’s modulus is based on the strength of the material. They will enter either of the two figures depending on the chosen material. If the column is not strong enough the column safety factor will turn red  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This section of the spreadsheet details the instructions for the budget.

 

Text Box:   This is the budget portion of the spreadsheet. This can be adjusted to fit the materials that are used to build the bridges. As you input a material that is purchased a running total will be kept. Inputs for all posts, wire and material used for the street must be a total length in inches. You must use only one type of wire for the bridge. When filling in the other parts of the spreadsheet, a running total will be kept on the wire that was purchased and this value can then be entered in the spreadsheet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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This section of the spreadsheet just deals with the output generated.

 

 

Text Box:   These two sections of the spreadsheet need no input. The lengths are the lengths the ties need to be cut to fit the spreadsheet equations. For all practical purposes, each tie can be cut the same length as the column height. This will work just as well and because of the size of the bridges to be made the difference will not be that much of a factor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After completing all of the inputs, and insuring that none of the cells have turned red, you will need to run the solver. To do this click on the "tools tab" in excel scroll down to "solver" and run it. This will insure that all the values that have been entered are at optimal values.

If the solver is not available on the "tools" menu, You will need to click on "add ins" and install it.