Fall 2013 Project Ideas

 

1. 217 labs

1. modify influence-line lab

2. modify superposition lab

3. develop new lab experiments

   • truss or beam deflections using dial gages and weights -- comparison to energy methods

 

2. 217 structural tours

1. find local structures that would be good for future classes to look at

   • highway signs, gas station canopy, park pavilion, campus buildings

   • relation to which chapter(s), topic(s), homework problem(s)

2. could some of these structures be instrumented?

   • could we measure load/strain/deflection fluctuations in columns, ceilings, floors, walls, etc due to foot traffic between classes, wind, snow, rain, temperature?

   • would the situation be simple enough to compare to IBC deflection limits?

3. what instruments could we use to measure load, strain, deflection, etc?

   • can we develop wireless sensor packs with phone/tablet apps?

     • Omega

     • wind speed, pressure, temperature, strain, acceleration, infared, etc

   • should the sensors be left in place, or should we create a portable kit and attached the sensors with magnets, straps, etc?

   • would sensors in cheaper consumer products suffice?  for example, fitness watches from fitbit or basis B1, toys, hunting or fishing gear, electronic music pad, etc

 

3. student motivation/performance

1. has student performance actually dropped in the last two or three years?

   • Generational Differences Chart  (generation X, latchkey kids, helicopter parents, etc)

   • No Child Left Behind  (starting in kindergarten)

   • would interviewing your peers help figure this out or find trends?

2. if performance has changed, how can the campus help?

   • what has helped you or your friends?

 

4. demonstrations, projects, hands-on activities, labs, etc. for students in CE 50 or 110

1. How about some screen captures or tutorials using forcepad.sourceforge.net?  Perhaps draw some of the homework problems shown on the 110 web site and then show the stress pattern? 

 

5. compare Robot to other structural-analysis software, e.g. SAP2000

 

6. new Robot tutorials

1. show more impressive uses for Robot

2. show merger with other programs, e.g. Revit

   • Use Revit and Robot to design a tree house to UBC standards.

   • Use Revit and Robot to design a storage shed to UBC standards.

 

7. differential settlement to create curved wooden structures

1. structural biomimetics

   • grown buildings

   • intro to 322

   • silk dome

2. curved roof ridge due to differential settlement

   • hobbit house

     • ridge framing

     • finished ridges

   • sagging framing - see diagram at bottom of page

   • sagging roof 1

   • sagging roof 2

3. start by modeling a timber beam with uniform distributed load

   • CE 110 problem 11.52

   • CE 110 problem 11.57

   • wood reference properties (see first yellow table)

   • how much settlement could a beam handle without fracturing?  would this amount of settlement be perceptible to the average person?

8. design duck hunting blind to UBC standards

• concrete and wood
• analyze the typical soil and possible settlement
• engineer the proper foundation system
• analyze the other loads and stresses
• relate it to class as much as possible