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MATERIAL SYSTEM
My operation was Stack / Gravity / Weight and intent was to achieve a 1 meter height. We had to achieve this given intent and operation using bricks, clay or wood as our weight materials. I took bricks and wood as my primary materials for the exercise. I started with exploring the basics of material forces through multiple iterations.
For the first iteration I used the basic forces of balance and weight. The three wooden legs at the bottom form a tripod, which gives me a wide and stable base so the structure doesn't tip over easily. On the top of that I placed cross pieces of wood that interlock with each other. This spreads the weight evenly and keeps the central spine from slipping. I put a brick at the middle level which presses down the on the joints and increases the friction so the pieces stay in place. The vertical wooden piece in the center carries most of the weight, while the side pieces help balance it. The curved wooden parts and the blocks on top are lighter, so they don't make the structure unstable. I also kept bricks on the ground near the legs to stop them sliding apart. By arranging the heavier parts at the bottom and the lighter ones at the top, I managed to keep the center of mass inside the tripod base, which is why the whole stack stands steady at one meter height.
For the second structure, I balanced all the materials on a two curved wooden pieces which acts like the main support or spine. The curve carries the weight in compression while its shape also shifts some of the load sideways, giving it both strength and flexibility. On the top of this I placed a brick which adds weight and pushes the wooden members tightly together. Above the brick, I stacked small interlocking wooden blocks arranging them so that they press against each other and prevent sliding. The stability comes from the careful balance of forces - gravity pulling everything down, friction between the wood and the curve acting like a strong backbone. By keeping the heavier brick lower and placing the lighter pieces higher, I made the sure the center of mass stayed closed to the curved base.
In this iteration, I stacked wooden blocks layer by layer to reach height while keeping the balance. At the bottom, I made a strong and broad base using short blocks placed in crisscross pattern. As I went higher I arranged the blocks in alternating directions so that the layers interlock with each other. This interlocking works like a locking system each layer presses down and holds the one below it through weight and friction.
In the middle, I extended longer blocks outward on both sides to give the structure the width. These layers act like balancing arms, stopping the tower from tipping over. Above this I reduced the length of the blocks again, making the structure lighter as it goes higher. B y doing this I kept the the center of mass closer to the middle so it would not lean or fall. Gravity pulls everything down but the friction in between the wooden surfaces holds the pieces together and allows the tower to rise without collapsing.
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