Digital Truss
For this digital truss project, I modeled a statically determinate planar truss in Autodesk Fusion 360 and evaluated it using the software’s built-in simulation and stress analysis tools. The objective was to create a lightweight, competition-ready structure that could safely carry prescribed loads at critical joints while minimizing overall material usage. I iterated through multiple configurations, systematically adjusting member geometry, joint locations, and boundary conditions to refine load paths, simplify connections, and improve manufacturability without compromising the structural performance required in a competitive environment.
Using Fusion 360’s finite element analysis workflow, I quantified internal force distribution, reaction forces at the supports, and overall load-bearing capacity under several distinct loading scenarios. These simulations highlighted high-stress members, guided targeted refinements to cross-section dimensions, and helped confirm a design that balanced strength, stiffness, and weight. Completing this project reinforced my understanding of truss behavior and load transfer, demonstrated how simulation can de-risk structural decisions before any physical prototyping, and strengthened the way I connect theoretical mechanics coursework to practical, competition-focused design challenges.
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