Our challenge was to use less than 1,000 popsicle sticks to create the tallest and strongest dome we could. We Decided to make our dome spherical so the radius is consistent. We designed and built a truss system that would best use the natural properties of the sticks with little to no cutting of the wood. We used the length of the sticks to decide on the proportions and connection points. We used a mixture of physical slot and glue connections. After the dome's assembly was completed the were put under load at the oculus and tested to the point of failure. After the collapse the domes are analyzed to see how the structure failed and could be imporved in the future.    

Assembly

Failure Analysis

Failure occurred within the joint and material system. Joints at the end/foot of the trusses failed for not being deep enough; not enough glue was applied onto the surfaces of the popsicles. Failure with the material because of buckling caused by twisted compression of uneven weight distribution onto the oculus. Shear failure was caused onto the three trusses out of the thirteen, reason for when nest cuts on the top of the trusses to hold the oculus snapped, the oculus and the payload weight distributed onto several of the trusses. Which then transferred weight onto the three trusses causing them to fail.