Concrete Sports

Concrete Sports / EngineeringX

Concrete Sports

Concrete Sports was a project where we designed and built sports equipment like a bowling ball and frisbee out of concrete. We began by discussing different types of concrete mix designs that balanced aerodynamics, strength, and aesthetics. We then applied the selected mix design to cast the object using a mold. For the bowling ball, we made sure that the ball was spherical, between 8-10 inches in diameter, and weighed no more than 16 pounds. Once the ball was complete, members could fine-tune their bowling skills on the grass, which was the standard surface at the concrete bowling competition at PSWC (Pacific Southwest Conference). For the frisbee, it had to be circular, without any holes, and had to be smaller than a 12” x 12” x 2” box but larger than an 8” x 8” box. Similarly, our team members practiced throwing the frisbee for distance and accuracy before going to PSWC. Throughout this whole process, we also selected a theme for our team. For the 2018 competition, we chose "Under the Seas" as our theme for our costumes and our frisbee, which we made to resemble a sand dollar.

Pro frisbee players with their "Under the Seas" costumes at PSWC 2018.

We were scored mainly on our design and our performance. First, we got points for submitting our mix design and for meeting the design requirements. Next, we got points for the durability of our product. This was tested by measuring the weight difference before and after the competition to see how much material was lost in the bowling or throwing process. The lower the weight difference, the better we scored. We also scored points for our design, so we always put in hard work to make sure that our bowling ball and frisbee were round and beautiful! Finally, we got the remaining points from the bowling or frisbee competition.

In 2018, we got first place at PSWC!

EngineeringX

Following PSWC 2018, Concrete Sports was discontinued. EngineeringX, a new project centered around a student-engineered obstacle course, has taken its place. Our first year as a project was a little bumpier than expected, with workdays being cut short due to online learning. But we are so excited to be able to introduce EngineeringX as an official project for the Pacific Southwest Conference and share it with other universities. While the event is virtual, each team will be able to write a professional technical report for their obstacle course the same they would for a structural engineering firm. As a growing project, we look forward to welcoming new members into our ranks to learn more about the structural aspects of civil engineering in a fun way, and we hope we will eventually be able to build the course we envisioned.