A structural study: design two trusses, predict their internal forces by hand and in MDSolids, then load them to failure to see how the real behavior compares to the analysis.
Approach
✓Analyzed each truss with the method of joints and cross-checked member forces in MDSolids.
✓Load-tested both physically, measuring peak force and dividing by mass for a strength-to-weight number.
What happened
✓Truss 1 carried far more load than Truss 2 (147 lb vs 30 lb) and was ~3.7× more efficient by weight.
✓Both broke mid-beam, not at the joints — so the members, not the connections, set the failure point.
✓Takeaway: thicker beam stock would move the failure back to the stronger joints and raise capacity.