Dateline -- Fri. 01/25/2008
During an Engineering Club Budget Planning Meeting late Friday afternoon, word was received that the Club had been awarded a College Innovation Fund Grant for the furtherance of its "Cart-to-Solar" (Golf Cart) Project.
This is tremendously great news! Details will be forthcoming.
DJ.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
INFORMATION from SGA
The following items came up in yesterday's SGA meeting, attended by your VP/SGA Rep. Kory Rash.
1. SGA is planning on sending a party of student volunteers to New Orlenas, LA, Feb. 22-24, to build houses with Habitat For Humanity. Apparently the cost per student will be around $50. If you are interested in some genuine humanitarian service, this would be it. We'll provide more information, including the contact person in SGA in the near future.
2. The Club with the MOST PARTICIPANTS WHO CROSS THE 5K FINISH LINE in the GIRL SCOUT "Run for the Cookies" gets a free pizza party.
Here is the entry form. If you enter, please let us know. Also be sure to SIGN IN FOR THE ENGINEERING CLUB when you CROSS THE 5K FINISH LINE.
(Click on the form to enlarge it.)
1. SGA is planning on sending a party of student volunteers to New Orlenas, LA, Feb. 22-24, to build houses with Habitat For Humanity. Apparently the cost per student will be around $50. If you are interested in some genuine humanitarian service, this would be it. We'll provide more information, including the contact person in SGA in the near future.
2. The Club with the MOST PARTICIPANTS WHO CROSS THE 5K FINISH LINE in the GIRL SCOUT "Run for the Cookies" gets a free pizza party.
Here is the entry form. If you enter, please let us know. Also be sure to SIGN IN FOR THE ENGINEERING CLUB when you CROSS THE 5K FINISH LINE.
(Click on the form to enlarge it.)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
ASME LUNCHEON // FRIDAY, JAN. 25.
This should be a very interesting Luncheon Meeting. Please consider attending.
PS. Click on the Flyer to enlarge it.
DJ..jpg)
PS. Click on the Flyer to enlarge it.
DJ.
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Monday, January 21, 2008
Cause of Minnesota Bridge Collapse
My dad may be retired but he is still a member of ASCE, the professional society for civil engineers. He forwarded a copy of the urgent e-mail sent by ASCE to all members about the cause of the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minnesota last fall that killed 13 people.
The collapse was due to a design error, not corrosion or maintenance problems that were assumed to be the problem during the discussions immediately after the disaster.
You can read the NTSB Safety Recommendation Letter and a detailed interim report by two engineers with the Federal Highway Administration on one specific part of that bridge design on the web. Links to these reports are also prominently featured on the ASCE web site.
It is unclear if the undersized plates used at two key joints were the result of a calculation error, an error in developing the plans, or even a drafting error. The documentation on file is still unclear at this point. What is clear is that you don't need a computer to do the calculation, one part of which would be a basic PHY2048 problem. What is important is that, wherever the error was made, the fact that this error ended up in the final plans indicates a significant error in the design process and a failure of the review process used by the engineers responsible for the design. The design review process itself, particularly when renovations are made to an existing bridge, has become the focus of the investigation.
Speaking of presentations, I'd love to hear one of our alumni walk through the part of the calculation I know nothing about, the stress calculation and the treatment of rivets in the net force and torque calculation.
The most striking thing to me was the similarity between the way they presented their results and the way the West Point Bridge Design computer program works to highlight strong and weak points in a design, although this particular design element is not part of the simple bridge designs used in that program.
The collapse was due to a design error, not corrosion or maintenance problems that were assumed to be the problem during the discussions immediately after the disaster.
You can read the NTSB Safety Recommendation Letter and a detailed interim report by two engineers with the Federal Highway Administration on one specific part of that bridge design on the web. Links to these reports are also prominently featured on the ASCE web site.
It is unclear if the undersized plates used at two key joints were the result of a calculation error, an error in developing the plans, or even a drafting error. The documentation on file is still unclear at this point. What is clear is that you don't need a computer to do the calculation, one part of which would be a basic PHY2048 problem. What is important is that, wherever the error was made, the fact that this error ended up in the final plans indicates a significant error in the design process and a failure of the review process used by the engineers responsible for the design. The design review process itself, particularly when renovations are made to an existing bridge, has become the focus of the investigation.
Speaking of presentations, I'd love to hear one of our alumni walk through the part of the calculation I know nothing about, the stress calculation and the treatment of rivets in the net force and torque calculation.
The most striking thing to me was the similarity between the way they presented their results and the way the West Point Bridge Design computer program works to highlight strong and weak points in a design, although this particular design element is not part of the simple bridge designs used in that program.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
TCC Engineering Club
President: Aaron Bauldree
Vice-President/ SGA Rep: Kory Rash
Secretary: Vernon Babich
Agenda
January 18,2008
2:30-4:00 SM260
· Introductions
· Fiscal Wake-Up Report from participants
· Town Hall Meeting Feb 20
o Will be receiving information just before this meeting
· Cart To Solar Project
o Funding/ College Innovation Fund
o Purchasing of first three PowerFilm R15-300 solar panels
o Plan of data collection using P3 Kill A Watt
· Budget Committee
o Formation and topics of interest
· Potential Club Events
o Parking Garage Tour
o Simpler Solar Tour
o Volunteer/ Community Service
§ Apalachicola National Forest
§ Rotary Club/ Wheelchair access ramps
· Open Forum
o Open to ideas/ comments/ suggestions for making the club better
· Wrap Up
SOLAR PROJECT MEETING SAT. 1/12/08
Information Supplied by Aaron Bauldree.
A. On Saturday, January 12, seven members of the TCC Engineering Club's Solar Project Committee met at All Saints Cafe to discuss the goals of the project and work on the College Innovation Fund proposal. The members that met were: Aaron Bauldree, Vernon Babich, Benjamin Holiber, Ann Wolfgang, Henry Youn, Matthew Rakestraw, and Kory Rash. Everyone was able to learn exactly what the College Innovation Fund is, and how it will be able to benefit our efforts. We were also able to complete the proposal for this request. If the club is awarded the requested $2500, we will be able to fully investigate how these panels can be used, as well as possibly have more than one cart fitted with solar panels before the end of this semester.
While the planning stage is completed, we are now ready to put the plan in action. Starting this week, we are going to start setting the foundation for the data collection process concerning the baseline energy consumption of the control cart.
As soon as the P3 Kill A Watt electrical usage meter arrives, we will start collecting data. So there is still much more work to be done, and everyone that is interested in contributing will have an opportunity.
B. Aside from the solar project, we also discussed presenting the opportunity for club members to give presentations during each club meeting. While these presentations will be brief, they will give an excellent opportunity for club members to practice their presentation skills.
Presentation is a key skill that engineers need when entering the working force. These presentations are completely voluntary and can cover any subject. It is just an opportunity to practice a skill that will help club members become better in the field of engineering. Anyone interested in volunteering to make a presentation needs to contact the Club President, Aaron Baudree, to be scheduled into the agenda.
A. On Saturday, January 12, seven members of the TCC Engineering Club's Solar Project Committee met at All Saints Cafe to discuss the goals of the project and work on the College Innovation Fund proposal. The members that met were: Aaron Bauldree, Vernon Babich, Benjamin Holiber, Ann Wolfgang, Henry Youn, Matthew Rakestraw, and Kory Rash. Everyone was able to learn exactly what the College Innovation Fund is, and how it will be able to benefit our efforts. We were also able to complete the proposal for this request. If the club is awarded the requested $2500, we will be able to fully investigate how these panels can be used, as well as possibly have more than one cart fitted with solar panels before the end of this semester.
While the planning stage is completed, we are now ready to put the plan in action. Starting this week, we are going to start setting the foundation for the data collection process concerning the baseline energy consumption of the control cart.
As soon as the P3 Kill A Watt electrical usage meter arrives, we will start collecting data. So there is still much more work to be done, and everyone that is interested in contributing will have an opportunity.
B. Aside from the solar project, we also discussed presenting the opportunity for club members to give presentations during each club meeting. While these presentations will be brief, they will give an excellent opportunity for club members to practice their presentation skills.
Presentation is a key skill that engineers need when entering the working force. These presentations are completely voluntary and can cover any subject. It is just an opportunity to practice a skill that will help club members become better in the field of engineering. Anyone interested in volunteering to make a presentation needs to contact the Club President, Aaron Baudree, to be scheduled into the agenda.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Engineering Club Schedule
THIS WEEK: Friday, 11 January
1. Solar Project Working Group (measurements next week)
2. Planning for 18 January meeting (Town Hall meeting)
3. Officers for the new year
4. Budget for the new year
NEXT WEEK: Friday, 18 January
Regular meeting in SM260.
Topic: Our role in the ASME Town Hall Meeting on Energy on February 20.
Friday, 15 February
Regular meeting in SM260.
Status of solar project and Town Hall meeting?
Wednesday, 20 February
ASME Town Hall Meeting: 7:00 PM at the Brogan Museum
Saturday, 23 February
College of Engineering "Engineering Expo" from 12 to 4 in the afternoon. This is an open house primarily for HS students, but we might be able to have the solar golf cart there for show and use the opportunity to learn more about the college.
Friday, 21 March
Regular meeting in SM260.
Friday, 18 April
Final meeting of the semester. Election of Officers. Practice presentation about the Solar Car project.
Friday, 25 April
Presentation of the TCC Solar Assist project at the ASME "Lunch and Learn" at the Golden Corral. (Conflicts with PHY2049 Final Exam, but only the presenters actually need to be there.)
1. Solar Project Working Group (measurements next week)
2. Planning for 18 January meeting (Town Hall meeting)
3. Officers for the new year
4. Budget for the new year
NEXT WEEK: Friday, 18 January
Regular meeting in SM260.
Topic: Our role in the ASME Town Hall Meeting on Energy on February 20.
Friday, 15 February
Regular meeting in SM260.
Status of solar project and Town Hall meeting?
Wednesday, 20 February
ASME Town Hall Meeting: 7:00 PM at the Brogan Museum
Saturday, 23 February
College of Engineering "Engineering Expo" from 12 to 4 in the afternoon. This is an open house primarily for HS students, but we might be able to have the solar golf cart there for show and use the opportunity to learn more about the college.
Friday, 21 March
Regular meeting in SM260.
Friday, 18 April
Final meeting of the semester. Election of Officers. Practice presentation about the Solar Car project.
Friday, 25 April
Presentation of the TCC Solar Assist project at the ASME "Lunch and Learn" at the Golden Corral. (Conflicts with PHY2049 Final Exam, but only the presenters actually need to be there.)
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