Grand Canyon Skywalk

1. External Forces

1.1. Magnitude

1.1.1. The magnitude is light because the force doesn't come crashing down super fast, people slowly walk on the skywalk and the weight gets higher gradually

1.2. Point of application

1.2.1. The point of application is on the glass walkway above the open air because that's where the load (people) are on.

1.3. Plane of application

1.3.1. The plane of application is applied at 180 degrees because the force (people) are walking strait along the glass, not straight down.

1.4. Gravity

1.4.1. Gravity is what pulls everything down. Gravity is considered a dead load because it never changes. The skywalk has to hold itself from gravity.

2. Internal Forces

2.1. Compression

2.1.1. When people walk and stand on the skywalk, it starts to experience compression as the peoples weight starts to act on the structure. This is because everybody's weight acts as a force travelling in a downward direction creating what we call compression. The magnitude of everybody's weight also creates compression.

3. The Grand canyon skywalk is made of reinforced and suspended glass and metal, this ensures a large live load. This structure is balanced in weight, so that it will not tip over into the abyss of the Grand canyon.

4. The skywalk itself

5. Form

5.1. The form of the Grand Canyon Skywalk is a U-shaped structure that is made entirely out of glass. This structure is "free floating" structure as it hangs off the edge of the Grand Canyon without any support other than the building it connects too.

6. Function

6.1. The function of the Grand canyon skywalk is to enable the ability for people to walk and sight see over the Grand Canyon's abyss. This structure provides a maximum amount of use and security as it has glass walls, borders, and floors and steel rods and rails.

7. Type of structure

7.1. The Grand canyon skywalk is a "frame" structure because it is made up of and fastened together by numerous individual parts. All these parts are pieces that benefit the structural aspect of the Grand canyon skywalk.