Dream Chaser Truss Bridge
By: Chukwuebuka Oduozo, DiAngelo Gleaves, Jacob Russell
Department: Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cheng Chen, Dr. Tim D'Orazio
A 3D printed truss bridge made with PLA plastic is a type of bridge that is constructed using a 3D printer and a thermoplastic material called PLA (polylactic acid). The bridge is designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software and then printed layer by layer using the 3D printer. A truss bridge is a type of bridge that uses a series of interconnected triangles to distribute weight and provide support. The use of PLA plastic provides durability and strength to the bridge while keeping the weight of the structure relatively light. This type of bridge can be used for a variety of purposes, including in educational settings to teach students about engineering principles, or as a model for testing the structural integrity of different designs.