Project Description:
Paula Portland, the owner of a local concrete company, is sponsoring a
concrete strength contest. The objective of this competition is to develop
the strongest concrete cylinders as measured by the average normal
compressive stress.
The cylinders are 3 in. diameter and 6 in. high. The group with the highest
average compression stress will win. Each group must submit a minimum of 5
cylinders for the final test.
The concrete strength problem poses several challenges to the participants:
selecting an appropriate concrete mix based on strength and workability,
using admixtures, selecting curing environments, and analyzing the results.
Project Presentation: Your firm (lab group) is competing with other
local firms to develop the strongest concrete as measured by the average
compressive stress of five cylinders. Along with your competition cylinders,
each group should prepare a technical report and a formal presentation with
visual aids. Information on these components will be presented during class
and in the lab. Technical report-writing information is available on our
website. |
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Evaluation Criteria:
The concrete strength project will be evaluated as follows:
- Project
Report
-
Format
and Readability (30 points) - Technical writing
content consists of the combination of format, content, and document
design
-
Technical Content
(50 points) - Use of engineering design concepts, completeness of ideas,
support of decisions presented, comprehensiveness of observations and
conclusions
- Please submit your final technical report (unstapled) to Dr. Camp at
the Oral Presentations.
- Oral
Presentation (10 points) - Based on peer reviews of the presentation
- Final
Cylinder Performance (10 points) - Based on final
concrete compressive stress. The group with the best compressive stress
will be awarded 10 points; the second-place cylinder will be awarded 9
points, the third-place 8 points, and so on.
Project Schedule:
Month |
Date |
Event |
October |
2-4 |
Introduction to concrete
Make concrete mix #1 (1:2:2 - no admixtures) |
| 9-11 |
Break mix #1 and make mix #2 |
| 16-18 |
Break mix #2 and make mix #3 |
| 23-25 |
Break mix #3 and make final mix; |
| 30-1 |
Break final mix;
Presentation planning |
November |
1 |
Break final mix;
Presentation planning |
| 3 |
Project Report and Oral Presentation 6:00 p.m. |
This website was originally
developed by
Charles Camp for
CIVL
1101.
This site is
Maintained by the
Department of Civil Engineering
at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.
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