Download Civ E 354 Design Competition

Civ E 354
Foundation Design Competition
The Challenge
Department of
Civil Engineering
Predict the performance of a footing placed in a box filled with dry sand.
Requirements
CivE 354 students will work in groups of three. Each team will be assigned a block of
wood, a soil box 40 cm long, 40 cm wide, and 28 cm high, and dry silica sand. The block
of wood is to be shaped into a footing with a bearing surface of 25cm2. The footing may
be circular, oval, square, or rectangular in cross-section.
On Friday November 07, 2003 by 4:30PM each team will be required to submit
predictions for the foundation ultimate load (qult) and foundation load that will produce
1mm of vertical foundation settlement.
On Monday November 10 and 17, 2003 during class time each team will place the
footing on the surface of their soil box filled with the allocated sand. The footing will be
loaded to failure. During loading the footing vertical settlement and applied load will be
recorded. Foundation ultimate load will be defined as the first leveling of foundation load
or the peak load at up to 5mm vertical deflection of the foundation.
The winner of the competition will be the team who predictions are closest to the actual
footing performance.
The Prize
The winner of this competition will receive a bonus of 5% on their final grade in addition
to the mark on the report (worth 10 term marks). Second place receives a 2% bonus on
their final grade.
Report
Each team must submit a design report worth 10% of the term mark. This report should
contain:
1. Literature reviewed for the design of the footing and laboratory testing.
2. Justification for the selection of footing shape, laboratory testing and analyses.
3. Result and analysis of laboratory tests.
4. Design calculations and statement of all design assumptions
5. Maximum load and settlement predictions, and
6. Comparison of footing predictions to actual performance.
7. Discussion of test results and theoretical predictions.
The report including figures is to be 10 pages maximum at 12-point font with 1.5 line
spacing. Appendices and references are to be attached to the report.
Civ E 354
Foundation Design Competition
Department of
Civil Engineering
It will be difficult to fit all of your information in a report so be thorough and succinct.
Marks will be deducted for reports over 10 pages in length. The report should be
considered as a client report. Therefore it should be neat, well organized and all
calculations should be formally presented in the Appendix.
Additional Notes:
All teams will be assigned one of four silica sands. You may compact your silica sand in
the box, its moisture content cannot be changed. Laboratory tests can be performed on
your sand if the equipment is readily available. All laboratory testing must be booked in
advance and must be performed within the constraints of scheduling.
Multiple teams will be assigned the same test box. Thus, cooperation and sharing of test
boxes is required.
Soil reinforcement and the performance of load tests prior to your scheduled test date are
not allowed.
You are encouraged to be innovative without violating the rules or spirit of the
competition. If you are worried that your design might be disqualified please consult
with Prof. Knight well in advance.
Planning is the key to making this project manageable.
LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN.
Schedule for Foundation Design Competition:
Monday Sep. 15 by 4:30PM :
Group names submission
Monday Sep. 22 by 4:30PM:
Testing schedule submission
Monday Oct. 20:
Testing completion
Friday Nov. 07 by 4:30PM:
Predictions submission
Monday Nov. 10 at 2:30PM:
Foundation testing in lab (8 groups)
Monday Nov. 17 at 2:30PM:
Foundation testing in lab (remaining groups)
Monday Nov. 24 by 4:30PM:
Report submission