Design Update

So, after all the advice and criticism Mark has been getting for his design, he has not decided to change it.

Although as a group we are generally concerned about not only our reputation, but the safety of anyone who sits in the shelter nothing can be done to change Mark's mind. He is adamant that the design is faultless.

We now have a 1:4 (ish) scale model of the large arch, completed by Ed and Mark in the workshop. Although the model does not fall down when someone (fairly light) stands on it, it does show that some of the joints are failing, and there is a warp in the structure.

This is because there has been too much of a chamfer cut into the wood to achieve Mark's desired shape of an arch. This takes away the strength of the wood, thus causing it to warp and fail.

For timber to be a successful structural element, no more than 1/4 of the section should be cut away. Any more than this an the function will be lost. However Mark thinks we will get away with it.