An interactive steel connection teaching tool - A virtual structure

In this paper, we describe the design and development of a web-deliverable interactive 3D virtual steel sculpture that can provide an effective learning opportunity and 24-7 access to engineering students and educators. Steel connections play important roles in the integrity of a structure, and many structural failures are attributed to connection failures. A good connection design requires the engineer to have a good understanding of the mechanics and steel behavior. In recent years, in order to help students better understand various connection types, many schools have acquired steel sculptures. A steel sculpture is a physical system that shows forty-eight types of connection found in standard construction practices. Unfortunately, because of its size and location (eight feet tall, weighs nearly 2500 pounds and usually erected outdoor), students do not always have easy access to it. The interactive virtual sculpture described in the paper provides an effective learning alternative. It allows the students to see the structure from multiple points of view anywhere anytime, and shows the close up view of each connection with description of how it may be used, potential failure modes, sample calculations, and field examples.