"University of Wisconsin - Madison"
(5th place overall)

Design Paper (3rd):

Presentation (4th):

UW focused on Wisconsin’s early mining history.  The power point presentation was given by four team members (two men and two women), two dressed in miners costumes and two in formal attire.  They integrated their script nicely with the slides and gave a very smooth and entertaining delivery.

The team was asked what they meant by their "pour mix," to clarify what they meant by flare and tumble home, and to explain the impact of the slurry on the bonding between layers in the composite section.

The judges asked if they had a target for their air entrainment and they were questioned on their construction methods, the effect that pre-stressing had on their design, and how the pre-stress was controlled.  Finally, the team was asked if they had initiated a post manufacturer modification while painting the slurry mix on their reinforcement.

In general, the presentation was strong and the team performed well under fire.

Product (10th):

Name: Mine Bender
Length: 20'
Weight: 125 lb
Color: orange and yellow

Vital Stats:

The University of Wisconsin, located in Madison, Wisconsin, was the representative from the Great Lakes Region.  This year marked their eighth consecutive appearance at nationals.  They have three top ten finishes to their credit.  Their highest finish to date was fifth in 2002. 

Display (7th):

Canoe/Materials/Facts:

UW's canoe design incorporated a sharp "V" in the bow and stern sections while the center section had a rounded "V."  The materials used in the construction include Type III Portland cement, micro-silica, fly ash, fiberglass mesh, and pre-stressing wires.