"University of Oklahoma"
(5th place overall; 3rd in paper; 8th in presentation; 3rd in product)

Presentation:

Oklahoma’s presentation was delayed due to technical difficulties.  Five team members, two men and three women, dressed in a combination of business and semi-casual attire, gave the presentation.

The team was quick to point out the critical design parameters and that strength was gained by grinding their fly ash.  They said that their reinforcement was theoretically not required but they integrated it just the same.  Then the team explained how they used a shot-crete method to minimize labor and enhance esthetics.

The team evidently built one canoe that proved unsuccessful and then built a second one taking advantage of the lessons learned.  And, during the question and answer session, the team was asked what they learned from their first placement and how they improved their quality control on their second attempt.  The judges also asked how grinding their fly ash affected the concrete strength gain over time? 

After a copy of a paper submitted for publication was distributed to the judging panel, the judges asked what considerations were given to placing different concretes.  The team was asked to comment on their unique hull design and to specify the attributes of it.

The judges mentioned that the University of Oklahoma was pretty large and asked the team how they reached the conclusion that they came from a relatively small school?  

The team was asked to comment on what basis their factor of safety of 1.5 was determined.  They were asked to elaborate on their construction methods and how they gauged thickness during placement.

The judges ended the session by asking the team what the most difficult part of the project was and what was the best part of the project.   

Product:

Name: Sooner or Later
Length: 21' 6"
Weight: 200 lb
Color: crimson and cream

Vital Stats:

The University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma.  They have proudly represented the Mid-Continent Region three times at the national level.  Their fifth place finish is the team's highest to date.

Canoe/Materials/Facts:

The mix for Sooner or Later consisted of Type I Portland cement, class C fly ash, and acrylic polymer, Ottawa sand, styrofoam beads, and water.  The cane was reinforced with a single layer of fiberglass mesh and a Kevlar rope