Michigan Tech Hosts Regional Concrete Canoe,
Steel Bridge, and Timber Beam Competition
HOUGHTON, MI--On April 5 -
7, the Michigan Tech student chapter of the American
Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will be hosting the North Central
Regional Concrete Canoe, Steel Bridge, and Timber Beam competition. Schools
in the North Central Conference include: Michigan Tech, Michigan State,
University of Michigan, Wayne State, Lawrence Tech, Akron, Case Western
Reserve, Ohio Northern, Detroit-Mercy, and Toledo. Nearly all of these
schools will be sending teams of students to Houghton for the competition.
The Concrete Canoe competition
includes canoe displays, design reports, design and construction presentations
and on-the-water racing for men, women and coed teams. Canoes will be
displayed on Friday April 6 from 10:30 A.M. to 2 P.M. at the Gates Tennis
Center. Modern concrete canoes typically are sleek 18 foot vessels weighing
less than 140 pounds. Design presentations will begin at 1:30 P.M. Friday
in Fisher Hall 135. Because of ice conditions in Houghton County, the
thrilling canoe races will be held at the Marquette Presque Isle Marina
on Saturday, April 7 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Michigan State has won the
Regional Canoe Competition for the past several years and will be the
favorite. However, strong challenges are expected from Michigan Tech and
Akron. The winning team will advance to the National Competition.
The Steel Bridge Competition
will take place at the Gates Tennis Center on Friday, April 6 between
9 A.M. and 3 P.M. The teams have already pre constructed the structural
elements of their bridges. The competition requires that each team assemble
the bridge to span a twenty foot stream crossing. Subsequently, the bridges
are load-tested up to 2,500 pounds and deflection is measured. Bridges
are judged based on assembly time, weight of bridge, deflection at maximal
load, and aesthetics. The winning Bridge Team will advance to the National
Steel Bridge Competition.
The Timber Beam Competition
will be held Thursday, April 5 at 8:00 P.M. in the Peter Grant Timber
Engineering Laboratory located in Dillman Hall Room 108. Student teams
have constructed 6 foot long timber beams with cross-sections not exceeding
9 inches square. The competition will weigh and load test each beam to
failure. The Michigan Tech team has never been beaten in the Timber Beam
Competition and will again be the favorite.
A banquet and awards ceremony
scheduled for Saturdsy, April 7 at 7 P.M. in the Memorial Union will honor
the winning teams. Dick Robbins of Robbins USA will speak on his experience
in building the Chunnel between England and France.
The Michigan Tech ASCE Chapter
is hosting the competition with the assistance of Gold and Silver Sponsors
Colasanti Corporation of Macomb Township, Gundlach-Champion of Houghton,
and U.P. Concrete Pipe Company of Escanaba. Several other engineering
firms also contributed.
