The University of Michigan participated in the ASCE sponsored 2018 North Central Student Conference at Western Michigan University last weekend, April 6-8, which includes the Steel Bridge Competition, Concrete Canoe Competition, and Technical Paper Competition. Members of the North Central Region who participated in the conference were Case Western University (bridge, paper), Lawrence Technological University (bridge, canoe), Michigan State University (bridge, canoe, paper), Michigan Technological University (bridge, canoe, paper), Ohio Northern University (bridge, canoe, paper), University of Detroit Mercy (canoe), University of Michigan (bridge, canoe, paper), University of Toledo (bridge, canoe, paper), Wayne State University (bridge, canoe), and Western Michigan University (bridge, canoe, paper). The Steel Bridge team placed first overall in the competition and is headed to the 2018 National Student Steel Bridge Competition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign this May. The teams must design, fabricate, and construct a 1:10 scale model steel bridge that can hold 2500 lbs. In the fall, a new design challenge is annually presented to competing teams, who spend the year designing and fabricating their bridge. At competition, the bridge is assembled (timed), loaded, and subsequently scored on display, construction speed, lightness, stiffness, construction economy, and structural efficiency. The U-M team took first place in the categories of display, construction speed, and construction economy along with the overall competition.
For the first time in the team’s history, Concrete Canoe placed first and will be headed to National Concrete Canoe Competition, held at San Diego State University in June. The Concrete Canoe Competition is designed to provide engineering students with an opportunity to gain hands-on, practical experience and leadership skills by working with concrete mix designs and project management. Concrete canoes are tested on design, construction, racing performance, and other innovative features. Although the weather did not allow for paddling this year, the team excelled with their display, oral presentation, written report, and final product to place first at the competition! The team also placed second for their technical paper. The technical paper and presentation competition addressed “How does the personal and professional use of social medial relate to the ASCE Code of Ethics”. U-M Steel Bridge team member Craig Tacey received first place for his paper and presentation completing the sweep at the competition.
CEE congratulates the Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe teams and looks forward to cheering them on at Nationals!
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Jessica Petras
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Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
