"Drexel University"
(10th place overall; 2nd in paper; 9th in presentation; 15th in product)

Presentation:

Drexel relied on 5 people to deliver their presentation.  They used 1 screen and presented their effort from a business standpoint.

Drexel got right down to business by highlighting their major advancement: self-consolidating concrete (SCC).

They followed this by highlighting the main attributes of their hull design.  The team specified the loading conditions that they took into account during their analysis and highlighted the prominent features of their entry.

The team explained that they performed a 2-D analysis while taking service and transport loads into account.  They found that a maximum stress of 180 psi occurred in the gunwales.

Then, the team elaborated on their SCC concrete and provided details regarding their mix design.  They outlined the requirements for their concrete mix and explained how they met them.  A pie chart was used to show the mix proportions.

The team described their reinforcement scheme and elaborated on the materials employed.  They explained the testing program and specified the confidence level achieved during the stint.

Then, the team focused on quality management and explained how they achieved it.  After stressing safety, they brought their presentation to conclusion.

Questions and Comments: 

• Was it necessary to have water in your lightweight aggregate to facilitate a cure?
• Did covering the canoe with plastic help to facilitate the curing process?
• What types of “submittals” were made between your teams?
• How did your management process work?
• How did you determine the values desired for slump?
• SCC is certainly an innovation but considering your product, would you use it again?
• The judges commented on grammar and, after specifying a sentence, asked the team how many letters would be capitalized in it.
• How did you arrive at the air content specified in your report?
• If SCC was used on a job site, what quality control methods would you recommend?

Product:

Canoe Name: Concrete Charlie  
Length: 20.8 ft
Weight: 250 lb
Color: French gray

Vital Statistics