Sources: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago; CP staff
The PCI Student Education Committee recently judged the Sika Corp.-sponsored Engineering Student Design Competition, or Big Beam Contest, challenging college or university teams to fabricate and test a precast/prestressed concrete beam with the help of local PCI Producer members. Prizes based on efficient design, highest load capacity and other criteria are awarded to the top 20 entries, drawn from a North America-wide pool.
Beam proposals were ranked by total number of points earned. Topping the field was the team representing the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., with students Robert Devine, Michael Brandes, David Terry, Jessica Orlando, Nicholas Bette, Ted Williams, Craig Davila, Megan McKeon scoring 64.50 points and receiving a $2,000 award plus other prizes. Their entry was prepared under South Bend producer StresCore Inc. and Notre Dame’s Yahya Kurama, Ph.D., P.E., faculty advisor. Rounding out the top five Big Beam Contest challengers were student teams backed by PCI members and faculty advisors:
Second place. Oregon State University, Corvallis; 59.25 points, $1,750 award; Knife River Corp. Northwest, Harrisburg, Ore.; Keith Kaufmann, Ph.D., P.E.
Third place. University of Kansas (Orange Team), Lawrence; 53.75 points, $1,500 award; Coreslab Structures Inc., Kansas City; Robert Lyon, Ph.D., P.E.
Fourth place. University of Washington (Team 2), Seattle; 52.00 points, $1,250 award; Concrete Technology Corp., Tacoma; John Stanton, Ph.D.
Fifth place. University of Kansas (Blue Team), Lawrence; 51.25 points, $1,000 award; Coreslab Structures, Kansas City; Robert Lyon, Ph.D., P.E.
Also receiving $1,000 awards were student teams placing sixth through tenth, representing, respectively, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, 50 points; University of Missouri, Kansas City, 48.50 points; Western University, London, Ont., 48.25 points; University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, 47.25 points; and, tied with 46.00 points, Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.
“The designs were based on sound engineering judgment, but the real value is how students learn the importance of the designer-manufacturer relationship in making [beams] come to life,” says PCI Managing Director, Education, Alex Morales.