2006 ENGINEERING DESIGN CONTEST

Sponsored by

Kansas High School The Pre-engineering Department at EIU

And

Engineering Council at UIUC through WYSE

Engineering Design Guide Fall 2006

Projects

Popsicle Bridge Racquet Ball Launcher Reverse Egg Drop Aircraft Design Wild Card
Students from your school may enter as many project categories as they wish as long as they are only on one team per category. [ie. A student (team) could bring all 4 projects if they get them built.] You can have as many teams per event as you wish as long as there are no more than 3 people per team.

The Wild Card event will be announced the day of the competition and will be limited to two teams per school.

Popsicle Bridge
Design Objective: Design and build a structure made of standard size wooden popsicle sticks that will hold the greatest load but weigh as little as possible. Design Requirements:
Popsicles: Weight: Dimensions: Must be standard sized popsicle sticks Maximum = 150 grams Maximum Width = 22 inches ; Maximum Length = 22 inches

Testing Requirements:
1. The structure must provide a place for the hangar to be hung from the center of the structure. It is required that teams use string to create a loop to hang the hangar. The string must meet the following requirements: a. The string may not serve any structural purpose, other than holding the hangar b. The string must attach only to the center point of the structure and hang vertically c. The loop must be level with the bottom of the structure * Note: If your string breaks or loop comes untied, it is considered to be a failure of your structure. Please ensure that the string can support more than your structure and your loop is properly created. Also, if your string is not properly located to hang from the CENTER of your structure, your design will be disqualified. 2. The structure must have all four of its corners touching the foundation at all times (See Figure)

Testing Conditions:
1. 2. The structure will be placed on the foundation and then the hangar will be hung from the loop (created by the team). If the structure fails to support the hangar, it will be disqualified. Weights will be incrementally added to the hangar until the structure fails. The structure has failed when: a. The string breaks, loop comes untied, etc. in such a way that the hangar is dropped b. The structure moves in such a way that not all four corners of application are on the foundation c. The structure sags more than 2 inches in any location (this includes the top) d. Any event occurs that drops the weights

Material Restrictions:
1. 2. 3. Any glue may be used Standard popsicle sticks may be used Any string may be used

Winning Design:
The winning design is that design which is found to have the greatest load efficiency. The load efficiency is calculated as follows:

Load Efficiency = Structural Load (lbs) / Structural Weight (Lbs)

Top View of Foundation

Point 1 18

Point 1

This is the location to where the string must hang. This is the location where the hangar will be applied. Failure to locate the loop at this location will result in disqualification.

NOTE:

Testing conditions may change, but design parameters should remain the same.

Racquet Ball Launcher

distance.

Design Objective: Design and build a catapult to launch a racquet ball the furthest average Design Requirements:
Weight: Dimensions: Maximum = 5 lbs No larger than 18in x 18in x 18in

Material Restrictions:
1. 2. Gas, electricity, and compressed air may NOT be used. Any common household item, basic hardware store products (woods, nails, screws, etc.) may be used.

Testing Conditions:
1. 2. 3. A line will be designated as a launch position. The front of the catapult may be no more than 6 inches behind this line during the launch. Each team will be allowed 2 trial runs before beginning the competition, which consists of three launches. Judges will decide where the racquet ball lands and record the distance

Winning Design:
The winning design will be the launcher that achieves the furthest average launching distance. In the event of a tie, the launcher which weighs less will be deemed the winner. Average Distance will be calculated as follows:

Average Distance = (Launch#1 + Launch#2 + Launch#3) / 3

Reverse Egg Drop

above.

Design Objective: Design and build a device capable of protecting an egg from an impact from Design Requirements:
Weight: Dimensions: Maximum = none Maximum Width = 8 inches ; Maximum Length = 8 inches; Maximum Height = 8 inches.

Testing Requirements:
1. 2. 3. The structure must provide adequate space underneath or within it to store an egg The structure must be stable on its own (not need anything to hold it in place) The egg must be easily put in place and easily removed from the device

Testing Conditions:
1. 2. The egg, within or beneath the protective device, will be placed on the ground. A weight will be lifted to a height and dropped on the device. The weight and/or height of the drop will be incrementally increased until the structure fails. The structure has failed when: a. The egg is cracked b. The egg protection device is unstable, that is, unable to stand up unsupported c. Any event has occurred that is deemed a failure by the judge * Note: If during testing the egg is shaken out of its original position (but not broken), the egg will be returned to its place and testing will continue. This is not deemed a failure of the structure.

Material Restrictions:
1. 2. ONLY the materials listed on the allowed materials page can be used! An unlimited amount of those materials can be used, provided the device is within the size limits

Winning Design:
The winning design is that design which is found to have the greatest normalized failure height (NFH). The NFH is calculated as follows:

NFH = mass dropped*drop height / weight of structure

Allowed Materials List

Popsicle sticks Toothpicks Balsa wood sheets String and twine all kinds Plastic bags Paper bags Cardstock Paper Corrugated cardboard Plastic drinking straws Cotton balls Rubber bands Balloons Fabric Glue all kinds Styrofoam Packing peanuts Pasta noodles all kinds Tennis balls Tape all kinds Disposable (like Dixie brand) plastic party cups Paper cups Aluminum foil

Aircraft Design
Design Objective: Design and build an airplane glider out of balsa wood that can fly farther, glide longer, and look better than the competition. . Design Requirements:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Store bought airplanes, or airplanes otherwise not designed by the contestant (as in built from published plans) are not permitted. All airplanes will be constructed of balsa wood. Metal or modeling clay may be used for nonstructural parts such as ballast. All airplanes will not be powered and will be flown as gliders. The maximum wingspan shall be 61cm (24 inches). The maximum mass shall be 30g (1.06oz).

Testing Requirements:
1. Airplanes may be repaired but not replaced or modified during competition. Adjustment Criteria are as follows: a. No part of the airplane may be completely removed b. Ballast may not be added or removed c. Incidence angle on any flying surface, or angle of any control surface, may be adjusted so long as the surface remains at the same station on the airplane d. Wings may be slid forward or aft a total distance of not more than one wing chord *Note: The participants must stand behind a marked line and throw their glider as straight and as far as possible (slide distance will not be counted for score) Also, the aircraft may not be released into free flight more than 5 feet above the ground.

Material Restrictions:
1. 2. 3. Any glue may be used Balsa wood is the only usable material for the main structure of the glider A ballast of modeling clay or metal may be used for non-structural parts

Winning Design:
The winning design shall take into account accuracy of flight, time of flight, distance of flight, and static judging of the glider (based on originality of design, engineering principles, and aesthetic appeal). The winning team will have the greatest Flight Efficiency (FE). In the event of a numerical tie, judges will chose the glider based on static judging. Scoring will be performed as follows:

FE = [(Forward Distance)-(Off-Center Distance)]*(Time of Flight)

Spaghetti Tower (Wild Card Event)

Design Objective: Design and build a tower made of spaghetti which will support a baseball. Design Requirements:
Materials: Weight: Dimensions: Must use only materials given to team for event No restrictions No restrictions

Materials (Provided):
One Box of spaghetti Two rolls of Masking Tape

Testing Requirements:
1. 2. The structure must provide a place for the baseball to be placed. The tower must be able to support the baseball on its own for a minimum of fifteen-seconds * Note: If your tower breaks or the baseball touches the ground, it is considered to be a failure of your structure.

Testing Conditions:
1. 2. The structure will remain in the location it is built. The baseball will be placed on the tower by a single team member. If the structure fails to support the baseball for the designated fifteenseconds, it will be disqualified. Following the fifteen-seconds, if the tower is still standing, the height, width, and length will be measured by the judge as follows: a. The HEIGHT will be measured from the base upon which the tower rests (i.e. ground or table) to the top of the weight (not to the highest point on the tower). b. The WIDTH will be measured from the leftmost point on the tower to the rightmost point on the tower. This distance may not be on the base of the tower. It will be the measurement of the widest distance the tower covers. c. The LENGTH will be measured from the point closest to the judge to the point furthest from the judge. This distance may not be on the base of the tower. It will be the measurement of the longest distance the tower covers. * Note: For clarifications on dimensions please see Figure.

Winning Design:
The winning design is that design which is found to have the greatest Load Efficiency. It is calculated as follows:

Load Efficiency = Height of Tower (to top of weight) Length of Base * Width of Base

Baseball Length (m) Height (m) Tower

Width (m) Figure of how to measure the spaghetti towers dimensions.