"University of Florida (Gators)"
(5th place overall; 5th in paper; 5th in presentation; 8th in product)

Excellence in Design Award

Presentation:

The University of Florida represented the Southeast and made their sixth national appearance.

Florida relied on 4 people to make their presentation; 3 men and 1 woman.  The presenters were dressed in suits and the presentation was business oriented.  The team used 1 screen and incorporated 3 video segments.  They were the only team to bring their form to the presentation… and that helped the gators address questions posed by the judges regarding construction.

After a brief introduction the team introduced their theme and outlined their presentation.  They began with project management and the project schedule.  Then it was on to hull design where the team explained how  they modified their bow.

The team described how they integrated the shape into a FEM package so that the critical loads could be determined.  The required specifications were provided along with a desired factor of safety.

The team explained that they tested 30 mixes before selecting their final mix.  They outlined the mix constituents and elaborated on the attributes of their design.  After specifying the tests conducted and outlining the results, it was on to hull and canoe construction.

The team explained how they constructed and finished their boat.  And, after giving a brief summary of the canoe’s attributes, the team brought their presentation to a strong conclusion.

Questions and Comments:

• Why did you use different classes of fly ash on the inside (C) and outside (F) of your canoe?
• How did you conduct your hydrodynamic tests to obtain comparative results?
• How did you insure that your model had the same characteristics of your prototype?
• How were funds raised and why did your department fail to support your efforts financially?
• How did you maintain quality control during the concrete placement process?
• Did the addition of free fibers make a difference relative to cracking?
• Can you explain the clamping mechanism that you employed during construction?

Overall, this was a very strong performance.

Product:

   The "Gators" from the University of Florida fielded "Gator Raider."
Length: 19.98'
Weight: 193 lb
Color: gray and black

The Gators’s hull was reinforced using 3 layers of carbon fiber/Kevlar mesh.  The team included polypropylene fibers for secondary reinforcement.  Matrix materials included poraver and K-1 glass spheres.

They improved on their hull design by incorporating a new bow sghape.  The team enhanced the graphics on their entry and paid a great deal of attention to detail.  The Gators highlighted a pirate theme; they created their cross section as a cannon and their display as a treasure chest.

Vital Statistics