"Clemson University - 3CT"
(4th place overall; 8th in paper; 3rd in presentation; 5th in product)

Presentation:

Three team members nicely dressed in polo shirts and cooking aprons gave the presentation.  It featured the most elaborate set of the day and the skit was based on a cooking scenario.  Subtle details including a tiger paw and black and white checkered countertop let the audience know that the national champion had stepped up to the plate.  

Clemson employed a split screen; one screen featured fixed graphics while the other was used to showcase videos.  The team nicely described the mix proportions and the results of experimental testing.  One of the chefs described how the team came up with a winning hull design and the animated graphics drove home the fact that the team had done a through job in researching their materials.  

Clemson used thermal imaging to study their hull.  They described their planning process and the organizational structure.  Job responsibilities were outlined and the decision making process was described.  The extent to which the team had practiced was noted.

 The team concluded their presentation by taking a model from their oven setting the stage for the question and answer session.  The judges began: "What items were on your critical path and how were these items determined?"

"How effective were the shrinkage reducing admixtures?" and "Why was no water reducer used in the mix?"."  "How were the prestresses controlled?" and "Why was Class F fly ash used as opposed to Class C?".

"What benefit did the thermal imaging provide?" and "How did this help to improve problems associated with delamination?"

"How was the amount of rocker determined?"  "What quality control procedures and/or methods used during construction?"  "Were tests conducted to verify that your design criteria was met?" and "What were your design criteria?".

"How many person hours were spent on the project?"  "How was prior research used to save time and effort?" and "What did you learn from these studies?".  And finally, "How did you determine the amount of the different fibers used to reinforce the canoe?"

 3CT did an outstanding job in this category and there were no major glitches!

Product:

Name: Main Course
Length: 21'
Weight: 176 lb
Color: blue and white

Vital Stats:

Clemson University is located in Clemson, South Carolina.  Their 3CT (Clemson Concrete Canoe Team) qualified for the competition by winning the Carolinas Conference.  They are one of only three schools (UAH and Berkeley are the others) to win back-to-back national titles in the 16 year history of the NCCC.  This year marked their eleventh consecutive appearance.  The team holds three national titles (1999, 2000, and 2002).  They have ten top ten finishes - nine being top five.

Canoe/Materials/Facts:

Main course was constructed using a lightweight concrete mix and reinforced with polypropylene mesh and pretension tendons.  It featured a dramatically new hull design that complimented the paddlers' strength.