2021 Concrete Canoe
“Paving the Wave”

Team members: Alexis Angeles, Julian Brittain, Jesus Chavira, Douglas Hood, Jessica Misla, Daniella Sanchez, Sudip Thapa

Abstract
The primary objective of the 2021 New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) concrete canoe team was to plan, design, and construct a concrete canoe in compliance with the rules and regulations provided by the 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Concrete Canoe Competition (CCC). Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the construction of the concrete canoe was no longer required. Instead, the team was expected to develop a 2-year long concrete canoe project that would begin in September 2020 and end in March 2022. The theme that was selected was Paving the Wave. To complete the project, the team of seven members was divided into three smaller groups: Hull and Mix Design Team, Construction Team, and the Management Team. The Hull and Mix Design Team were responsible for researching, selecting, and proportioning materials in the mix, determining the geometric properties of the design and conducting the structural analysis on the canoe. The team’s hull design aimed to increase the displaced volume of water and reduce the drag. To do so, the team designed the canoe with a round-bottom and increased the dimensions of the previous year’s (Coffin’s) design. The structural analysis calculations were performed to estimate the stress demands and to ensure that the design could adequately withstand the loads being applied. The Construction Team was responsible for the research and development of construction techniques for the fabrication of the canoe. The Management Team was responsible for coordinating the general production process of the concrete canoe to ensure that the entire team completed the primary objective. The whole team met twice every week to make note of any updates, verify completed tasks, and discuss any tasks that still needed to be completed.

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Charlotte Dungan (PDF)

Absorption coefficient measurements and their relation to air quality and climate change: Intercomparison of a photometer and aethalometer

Atmospheric aerosols (suspensions of particles) derive from multiple human and natural sources. They contribute to climate change by alternately enhancing or masking greenhouse gas warming depending on aerosol properties. Aerosols’ effect on climate is currently the single largest physical uncertainty in climate modeling efforts as it ultimately impacts cloud feedbacks. Aerosol absorption is the dissipation of radiant energy as it passes through a particle resulting in the heating of the particle and surrounding air. Based on the refractive index, a particle will absorb, reflect, or transmit radiant energy. The absorption coefficient (babs), measurable at multiple wavelengths in typical units of 1/Mm, quantifies warming from particles. Measurement techniques are diverse; here we focus on the Tricolor Absorption Photometer (TAP) and MA200 mini-Aethalometer (MA200). The TAP and MA200 measure light attenuation due to aerosol deposited on a filter. The TAP has 3-wavelengths (375, 525, and 625 nm) while MA200 has 5 wavelengths (375, 470, 528, 625, and 880 nm) spanning the UV, visible, and IR spectrum. Here the instruments are compared with continuous measurements of ambient aerosols at NMT. Our focus is comparing (1) temporal trends, (2) wavelength dependence, and (3) the overall accuracy of both instruments. Measurements show peaks in absorption coefficients between 8:00 PM to midnight in winter months, likely a function of wood-burning. Early results show a strong statistical correlation between the instruments and general agreement on wavelength dependence. MA200 has, however, has an absorption coefficient larger by a factor of 1.2-1.7 than the TAP which is under investigation.

Angela Hail (PDF)

"Rainwater Catchment and Treatment for Presbyterian Medical Services in Cloudcroft, NM"

Rainwater catchment and treatment has become a viable solution to potable water scarcity in dry, desert areas. Among many other arid environments, Cloudcroft, New Mexico has experienced times of severe drought. The drought conditions in the early 2000s inspired the idea of this project to harvest and treat rainwater for some facility in the town that has a high drinking water demand. During the crisis, the city hauled water from a nearby town, which cost in terms of water unit price, fuel, vehicle maintenance, distribution, etc. Harvesting and treating rainwater both conventionally and innovatively for Presbyterian Medical Services would save the community time and money in the event of another crisis. Alternatives to the catchment area, structure, and treatment system were considered. The process of selecting alternatives to investigate involved designing for multiple techniques used in conventional and advanced water treatment. The optimal solution was narrowed down using a Leopold Matrix.

John Ryan Himes (PDF)

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A DRONE ASSISTED SEISMIC SURVEY

John Ryan Himes, Isabel Morris, Akram Mostafanejad, and Mostafa Hassanalian

In Civil engineering, active source reflection seismic surveys can determine soil composition as well as identify underground utilities and infrastructure. However, each geophone requires meticulous placement and calibration. Additionally, one survey, depending on its scale, can require tens or hundreds of geophones. To alleviate the tedious installation process and expand the use of active source reflection seismic surveys for Civil engineering-scale projects, this senior design aims to design and test a working prototype of a drone system with the ability to properly install a prefabricated geophone in a predetermined location and record accurate and precise data. To ensure the design is adequate, the drone will be designed based upon its payload, flight characteristics, battery life, and landing mode. For a larger survey, the drone will be able to communicate with multiple drones so that multiple geophones can be installed simultaneously. Additionally, the geophone case, the sole connection between the geophone and the drone, will be designed for a typical wireless seismic node and will be analyzed under three failure modes (reactions at bolt connections, bending, and shear) for three scenarios (landed, take off/midflight, and landing).

Estela Salinas (PDF)

Attribute Analysis of Construction Materials with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

The purpose of this project is to develop a program that gives a labeled map of the locations of construction materials based on attribute analysis from Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scans. Attribute analysis is advantageous because it allows researchers to study more than one characteristic about a material or structure that is not visible from the surface. Attributes are characteristics of the GPR data that can identify material composition and are calculated from GPR scans of a site. The chosen attribute is attenuation. Attenuation is the rate at which a signal travels or decays through a material. The program is based on a binary classification system that locates different materials based on their attenuation. The binary system allows for more attributes or materials to be added to the program while still being able to locate them properly. We present an application of attribute analysis and classification of GPR scans from Corvin Castle (Hunedoara, Romania), which is composed of many different materials from a number of restorations and expansions since the 13th century. Categorizing materials based on their attributes can improve damage detection techniques. By establishing what range of attribute values correspond to different materials and displaying the resulting classification, the program will provide a visual overview of the locations of the different materials. The information gained from this project can aid restoration and preservation efforts

Jonathan Taylor (PDF)

Earth Sheltered Structural Design

This project covers the design of an earth sheltered residential structure. The building was designed for a client in central Pennsylvania. The main structure of the building utilizes a partially composite steel beam with concrete deck. The walls have been designed with concrete masonry units and the columns are HSS. The building is earth sheltered to utilize passive annual heat storage which creates a large dead load for the walls and roof structure. The architecture was a collaboration between the designer and the client.

2021 Steel Bridge

Team members: Brayden Fletcher, Drew Krajeck, Elisabeth Quan, Hamza Syed, Ryan Vallejos

Abstract
As a part of the Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree, undergraduate students at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) complete a Senior Design project. Five undergraduates chose to participate in the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC). This project focused on the design of a steel bridge, analyzing it under lateral and vertical loads, and sequencing it for construction.

The AISC SSBC coincides with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Rocky Mountain Regional Conference, which hosts the ASCE Concrete Canoe competition. Traditionally, both of these events are held in person at the same region-specific host school, and competing teams travel to participate in various conference events and festivities. Historically, participants in the SSBC physically construct their bridge on-site, where it is rated according to aesthetics, construction speed, lightness, stiffness, construction economy, structural efficiency, and cost estimation. The teams with the highest overall performance go on to compete in the AISC
National Competition.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic led AISC and ASCE officials to cancel all in-person events for the 2021 Rocky Mountain Regional Conference in order to preserve the safety and welfare of all participants. This decision was made after many competing teams, including that from NMT, had already begun planning and scheduling bridge designs. In lieu of an in-person competition, AISC provided students with the option to either compete from campus or participate in a supplemental competition. The former option was very similar to the traditional in-person competition, with trained faculty members from each respective university acting as competition judges. The latter option was an entirely novel competition and involved the design and analysis of a bridge that complied with the same structural specifications as those followed by the “compete from campus” option. Rather than physically constructing a bridge, teams competing in the supplemental competition were required to create a detailed, step-by-step construction procedure. The supplemental competition also required a comprehensive paper outlining the methods and techniques used for design, analysis, and construction.

Bridge Specifications:
The 2021 AISC SSBC Rules outline all specifications for the bridge. This section outlines the critical stipulations defined by AISC. Non-compliance with these requirements results in immediate disqualification from the competition. The bridge must be constructed of only magnetically attractive steel nuts, bolts, and members. Each member must be completely rigid and may have dimensions no larger than 3'-6'' x 6'' x 4". Bolts cannot exceed 3" in length and nuts must be hexagonal. The bridge may have only two stringers, each with a length of at least 20’. The top chord of the stringers may not have any large gaps or elevation changes and must be between 1'-7" and 1'-11" above the ground surface at all locations along the span of the bridge. The bridge is to be constructed with the stringers at a prescribed 1’-6'' offset, as shown in Figure 1. Each of the four footings shall be 1'x1' and are considered fixed connections. The floor space within these footings is the only place in which any bridge component may touch the ground, and the length of the bridge must be confined within the footing areas. The width and height of the bridge may not exceed 5’ and the total length of the bridge must be less than 22'-6". The bottom of the stringers must also be no lower than 7-½” above the surface of the ground. The decking of the bridge must be wide enough to accommodate a 3’-6” decking plate at any point between the two footings and must provide a straight clear passageway.

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