STUDENTS
TO TEST SKILLS IN CONCRETE CANOE COMPETITION MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University at Salina's Civil Engineering Technology Club will compete in American Society of Civil Engineers' Mid-Continent Regional Conference concrete canoe competition April 26-27. The conference is being held by the University of Oklahoma, Norman, and nine university teams will compete. Regional winners continue in competition at a national conference in June. Student teams are judged on the design of their hull through a report detailing the mix of the concrete used, construction and techniques used and the overall cost of creating their canoe. Students also are judged on a presentation and display at the conference. Boats that pass inspection are then allowed to compete in endurance and sprint races. Andy Rietcheck, assistant professor of civil engineering technology, sees the competition as an opportunity for students to learn many different skills. "This project allows for good student interaction," Rietcheck said. "It gives them an opportunity to develop their time-management skills, as well as skills within their discipline. They get experience with cost estimating, light-weight concrete and mix design." They also get exposure to new technologies being used in concrete, such as admixtures, Rietcheck said. Admixtures are chemicals used to control the setting of concrete, strength development and water content. Students participating
in the competition are: |