11/14 Notes and about Saturday 11/18

Hey Chrome-O's,

This Tuesday Jessica and Matt summarized what we've analyzed so far:

Bis Vs
Monstro
Everest
Chichen Itza

As of right now, the Everest Truss looks too unstable, and has safety issues for construction that, quite frankly we shouldn't have to worry about. We're trying to get a solid structure and minimize construction risk, as our construction score counts for quite a bit this season.

We also noted that weight is a big factor in our structural score, so all design will be on a diet plan to a certain extent. Roughly 75%, 25%, weight to deflection (if our deflection range is reasonable on average)

Think about construction in the meantime, we have to put this baby together in our best time ever if we're going to win at Mid-Pac. The 2005 effort was our best yet at 3 minutes 38 seconds, with an immense amount of practice mind you. Last season's effort was also very solid, but imagine how fast we'd have been if we didn't rebuild the entire overtruss after Mid-Pac. That's 3 more weeks of practice!!!

THERE WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE CONSTRUCTION QUIZ ON TUESDAY NOV. 22ND!!! So be ready to answer question correctly -- there may even be rules pertaining to the clarifications on the AISC NSSBC competition page found here:

http://http://www.aisc.org/
(follow the links to student design competitions)

THIS SATURDAY 11/18:
Well, it's no secret to those that've been showing up. We're getting very efficient at analyzing, and with the turnout, we are ahead of schedule. This weekend, and this weekend only, will be the last effort to try new things. The weeks following will require some fine tuning, and narrowing the decision. Jessica and Matt will have models ready for input and analysis - there should be about 4 or 5 workable designs.

Sac State will be in town this Sat. We play at 1:05 p.m. at Toomey Field - All current students can get free tix so long as they show up early and check in with Aggie Pack on the East Side of the "Stadium" - 11 am would be safe, maybe even sooner, don't know how crazy everyone is going to be. Gates open at 11:45 a.m. - this game, the 53rd Annual Causeway Classic, will be televised (pause for laughter of the I-A university football schools reading) so that's an added bonus, tape the game, maybe see yo'self on tv.

Our analysis checks for this Saturday will include:

Monstro - with modified deck flanges, I-Beam NDSU style I guess you could say, but the geometric centroidal depth in SAP will go up 1/2". Sweet.

Big Vs - again with I-beam like tubular flanges.

Chichen Itza - with the new flanges again.

Matt will also develop his "Lowrider" beam deck - it will be a special case, and hopefully, he can organize a trial loading of the PDM Model very soon to see if it's worth it. This will be our first beam-style analysis.

BASIC rule of thumb for analysis to final product, is that the shallower your bridge is, the smaller the margin is for error. Deeper bridges tend to deflect closer to that analyzed. We may have to elevate the pin connections atop the piers for the beam to be effective.

Okay, ramble on! I know.

See you Saturday -- again, good luck with continuing mid-terms.

And so we design and analyze on! Remember to read the construction rules AND clarifications.













Having dreams is common, being crazy enough to make them reality, that's Chrome Ollie.