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Issue: 4 August/September 2012
Michigan Tech Finishes Third in the Concrete Canoe Competition
Concrete Canoe Club, MTU Nationals

Each year, thousands of students across the country put their engineering knowledge and skills to work in order to achieve a common goal: create a concrete canoe. After many trials and tests, these students then bring their finished product to their regional competition in hopes of advancing to the ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition. In the midst of this crowd is Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech). After finishing first at the North Central Regional Competition for the third straight year, the team set their sights on the national competition, held June 14-16 at the University of Nevada, Reno. 

 

Michigan Tech has been an active competitor at the national level, appearing 13 times in the 25 year history of the competition. The team, comprised of over 25 students from 9 different engineering and science majors, started the year wanting to improve upon their 6th place finish at the 2011 national competition.

Several rule changes occurred between the 2011 and 2012 seasons, including the reintroduction of hull design. Michigan Tech took to this new variable with much enthusiasm, researching several new designs. In the end, the team chose a hull that would not only minimize straight-line correction, but would also improve buoy turns. The final hull design also provided paddlers with easy access to the water, increasing paddler comfort and efficiency.

 

In addition to the change in hull design, several changes were made to the race portion of the competition. In years past, the endurance race teams were comprised of 3 paddlers and a portion of the course consisted of a slalom. For the 2012 competition, the number of paddlers for this race was reduced to two, and the slalom was removed. The coed sprint length was also changed. Doubling in length, it provided a new obstacle on the water to overcome.

The team wanted to improve upon last year's concrete by increasing tensile strength and decreasing unit weight. After several test batches, the structural mix, Ballast, was finalized. While the unit weight was decreased from the 2011 value of 60.2 pcf to 55.4 pcf, the team was unable to improve upon 2011's tensile strength of 389 psi. However, testing ensured that the 323 psi was adequate for this year's tensile strength needs.

 

Once mix design was finalized, the canoe was ready to be cast. Coinciding with the canoe's sailing theme, the new canoe was christened Genoa after a large, triangular sail deployed to gain speed and overtake the opposition. Michigan Tech felt that this new canoe would be essential to a victory at Nationals.

After the canoe was cast, sanding and staining commenced on the canoe. By applying concrete stains to Genoa with airbrushing and hand-brushing techniques, the team was able to produce a visual dynamic canoe. Throughout the interior of the canoe, a large map was airbrushed along with other nautical elements. On the exterior of the canoe, a large sail and artistic wave patterns were applied. To add to the sailing theme, the team stained "Michigan Technological University Concrete Canoe Team" in nautical flags along the top of the canoe gunwales.

 

The first day of the national competition was dedicated to the teams' final products. Each team displayed their canoe, a tabletop display highlighting aspects of the project, and a cross-section demonstrating the construction process of the canoe. Keeping with the theme, all portions of Michigan Tech's display pertained to sailing in one way or another. Genoa was displayed on a set of stands consisting of a lighthouse and a ship's helm handmade by members of the team. The tabletop display was modeled after a ship's cabin. Finally, the cross-section was displayed on a stand mimicking a navigational buoy.

 

In addition to the final product judging, each team's canoe is weighed and put through a swamp test. Genoa weighed in at 131 pounds, making it one of the lightest canoes at competition. The team also successfully completed the swamp test, where the canoe had to return to the surface after being submerged.

 

The oral presentations were given on the second day of competition. During the oral presentations, teams are allowed five minutes to highlight their achievements throughout the year. Wanting to improve upon the team's 8th place finish at the 2011 competition, Michigan Tech spent several hours preparing in order to ensure success. After delivering a flawless presentation, the floor was opened up to questions from the judges. Despite the difficulty of the questions posed, the presenters took each question in stride and answered all questions confidently and correctly.

 

Despite the new race for the endurance and the addition of a weighted jug for a portion of the race, Michigan Tech felt that they were prepared for competition due to training practices throughout the year. In the end, the women's endurance team finished 9th overall, while the men's endurance team finished 7th overall.

 

With the new hull design in place, the moment of truth for the team came during the sprint races, where precise buoy turns would be essential for posting competitive times. All three sprint teams qualified for final races by finishing in the top 10 during preliminary races. The men's sprint team finished 4th overall and the women's sprint team finished 8th overall. Even with the additional lap, the coed sprint team finished 8th overall.

 

After all portions of competition were completed, Michigan Tech was eager to see how their hard work would be rewarded. In the presentation category, Michigan Tech finished 2nd overall, tying a previous record. In addition to this, the team also placed 2nd in the final product, a new team best. The team, unsure of their final race and paper finishes, was anxious as the top 5 overall places were announced. After a few tense moments, it was announced that the team had finished third overall, tying the team's previous personal best set in 2005.

 

The team is currently prepping to start over again at the beginning of the school year, and will be striving to finish better at the 2013 competition.

New International Trade Crossing
Project's Supporters Seek to Build Economic Security for
Michigan Residents

On June 15, 2012, Governor Rick Snyder signed an agreement with Canada to build a New International Trade Crossing (NITC). The new crossing will provide a modern, strategically located bridge between Detroit and Windsor and create thousands of jobs. "This agreement is about more than building a bridge," Snyder said in a statement. "It's about building a future of economic strength and security for families across our entire state."

The agreement is not complete until the administration receives federal permits and waivers, in particular the Presidential Permit. The application has been submitted to the U.S. Department of State, and they are now accepting public comments at [email protected] until September 10, 2012.

ACEC/Michigan has been supportive of building a new crossing for some time and will be submitting comments in support of the crossing.

2012 ASCE Scholarship Winners   

  

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Mackinac Scholarship and the 2012 Zuidema Scholarship!  


Caroline Williams, winner of the Mackinac Scholarship, received a $10,000 scholarship (paid in two increments of $5,000 each year). She enjoys participating on several committees and societies including: American Society of Civil Engineers, Student Engineering Council, Steel Bridge Team, Concrete Canoe Team, Society of Women in Engineering, and the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers Mentoring Program.

Matthew Moran, winner of the Zuidema Scholarship, also earned $1,500 to put toward his educational goals. Matthew is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Concrete Canoe Team, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and the WMU Academic Integrity Council. He also has participated in the Monroe-Brown Internship Program and the Internship l0l Program.
ACEC Announces 2012-2013 Board of Directors 

 

President

Keith Swaffar, P.E.

NTH CONSULTANTS, LTD.   

 

President-Elect

John Hiltz, P.E.

ORCHARD, HILTZ & McCLIMENT, INC.

  

National Director

Jim Escamilla, P.E.

BYCE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

Treasurer

Amy Trahey, P.E.

GREAT LAKES ENGINEERING GROUP, LLC

 

Past President

Kirk Branson, P.E.

PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF MI

  

Directors:

Robert Rayl, P.E. (RS ENGINEERING, LLC); Jim Cook, P.E. (PREIN&NEWHOF); Wally Alix, P.E. (HUBBELL, ROTH & CLARK, INC.); Thomas Deneau, P.E. (WIGHTMAN & ASSOCIATES, INC.); Sean Kelley, P.E. (THE MANNIK & SMITH GROUP, INC.); Steve Nichols, P.E. (FISHBECK, THOMPSON, CARR & HUBER, INC.) Michael Cooper, P.E. (HARLEY ELLIS DEVEREAUX); Stephen Pangori, P.E. (ANDERSON, ECKSTEIN & WESTRICK, INC.); Steve Gravlin, P.E., P.S. (WADE TRIM); and Mark Kramer, P.E. (SOIL and MATERIALS ENGINEERS, INC.)

 

2012-2013 MSPE Officers
President
Martha Darnton, PE

Secretary
Nancy McClain, PE

Treasurer
Jim Kirkwood, PE

Immediate Past President
Fernando Arze-Peredo, PE

Regional Vice-Presidents
VP Northern: Bob Green, PE 
VP Easter: Phil Porte, PE 
VP Western: Matthew Tipping, PE 
VP Southeastern: Douglas Thompson, PE 
VP Mid-Michigan: N. Robert Uddin, PE 

Practice Division Presidents 
PEC President: Brad McAvoy, PE 
PEG President: Patrick Lewis, PE 
PEI President: Bob Curtis, PE 
PEHE President: Mahmoud El-Gamal, Ph.D, PE 
PEPP President: Fritz Klingler, PE 

Executive Director 
Nancy McClain, PE 
Michigan Construction Quality Partnership
The Michigan Construction Quality Partnership (CQP) recently recognized select individuals for their work on the development of the "Constructing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility" training program. The program seeks to honor teams that have excelled in the principles of quality improvement and to promote their quality achievements for others to use to "make a difference" in the quality of Michigan's highways and roads. CQP presented awards to the following individuals:

     
Mary Finch & Robert Fijol 
Federal Highway Administration

Carlos Libiran & Joe Tejkl
Michigan Department of Transportation

Dan Troia
Ingham County

Lynnelle Berkenpas
Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering

Kerry Sutton, Aaron Harris, & Steve Waalkes
Michigan Concrete Association

Tim Colling & Chris Codere
Center for Technology & Training

Brad Brickel
Nowak & Fraus

The Michigan CQP is the result of the partnership between:
  • American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan 
  • Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan
  • County Road Association of Michigan
  • Federal Highway Administration
  • Michigan Concrete Paving Association
  • Michigan Department of Transportation
  • Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association
  • Michigan Road Preservation Association
View From the Mackinac Bridge

ACEC Past President Andy McCune, PE, and current Board member Wally Alix, PE, PS, enjoy the view atop the Mighty Mac. Both submitted ACEC silent auction* winning bids for the trip to the Bridge.

 

*The ACEC silent auction, held in conjunction with the ACEC Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards gala, supports scholarships for future engineers.

 

Andy McCune (Left) and Wally Alix (Right)

2012 SAVE THE DATES!

September 21, 2012 ACEC Scholarship Golf Outing, Lansing

One of only 2 fundraising events held to bolster scholarship funding

  

October 5, 2012 Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards 

Deadline to submit entries for award projects

   

October 14-17, 2012 ACEC National Fall Conference 

2012 Fall Conference 

Boca Raton Resort, Florida 

ACEC National Conference 

 

Oct 18-20, 2012 ASCE National Annual Conference

Montreal, Canada

ASCE National Conference 


  
  
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In This Issue
Michigan Tech Concrete Canoe Competition
New International Trade Crossing
2012 ASCE Scholarship Winners
ACEC 2012-2013 Board of Directors
MSPE 2012-2013 Officers
Michigan Construction Quality Partnership
View from the Mackinac Bridge
2012 Save the Dates!
Engineering Center

 


SPONSORS

  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 

Michigan
 Engineering Center
Questions about engineering?
Please contact:

 

Ron Brenke, PE 

Executive Director

ACEC & ASCE

 517-332-2066

Nancy McClain, PE
Executive Director  
MSPE
517-487-9388