1. World’s Tallest Tower Case Study #1 Northern Highlands Regional High School Applied Technology Department Real World Engineering List Design/Build Engineering Team Members Name of Engineering Firm September 12, 2009 Instructor-Mr. Mugno

2. Scenario Your Engineering Firm has been approached by the City of San Francisco to Design and Build a skyscraper that will be the tallest building in the world. Your Engineering Firm has been approached by the City of San Francisco to Design and Build a skyscraper that will be the tallest building in the world. The Structure must also be able to withstand an earthquake of 8 on the earthquake scale for a time period of 30 seconds. The Structure must also be able to withstand an earthquake of 8 on the earthquake scale for a time period of 30 seconds.

3. Statement of the Problem The problem we had to solve was to design and build.the tallest tower possible that would support a live load of 15 lbs. and survive an earthquake that measures 8 on the earthquake scale for 30 seconds. The problem we had to solve was to design and build.the tallest tower possible that would support a live load of 15 lbs. and survive an earthquake that measures 8 on the earthquake scale for 30 seconds.

4. Design Criteria The tower must be the tallest tower possible that your team can build. The tower must be the tallest tower possible that your team can build. The minimum height acceptable is 32 inches tall. The minimum height acceptable is 32 inches tall. The tower must be built strong enough to withstand a live load at the top that measures 15 lbs. for 30 seconds. The tower must be built strong enough to withstand a live load at the top that measures 15 lbs. for 30 seconds. The structure must be able to survive an earthquake that measures 8 on the earthquake scale for a time period of 30 seconds. The structure must be able to survive an earthquake that measures 8 on the earthquake scale for a time period of 30 seconds. The welded joints of the structure must be reinforced with paper squares not to exceed 1 inch by 1 inch square. The welded joints of the structure must be reinforced with paper squares not to exceed 1 inch by 1 inch square. The top of the tower must be at least 4” x 4”. The top of the tower must be at least 4” x 4”.

5. Design Constraints You must use only the materials supplied by the teacher to construct the tower. You must use only the materials supplied by the teacher to construct the tower. The tower must be constructed of Balsa Wood (#50 two foot sticks 1/8 x 1/8) and eight (6) glue sticks ¼ x 4” The tower must be constructed of Balsa Wood (#50 two foot sticks 1/8 x 1/8) and eight (6) glue sticks ¼ x 4” For the working models (possible solutions) you will be given four ¼ glue sticks and 22 balsa wood sticks – 2’ length 1/8 x 1/8 For the working models (possible solutions) you will be given four ¼ glue sticks and 22 balsa wood sticks – 2’ length 1/8 x 1/8 For the Final Prototype you may only use (6) 5/16” glue sticks to weld the structure’s materials where the members touch. For the Final Prototype you may only use (6) 5/16” glue sticks to weld the structure’s materials where the members touch. You may use a maximum of 1” square paper to reinforce each welded joint. You may use a maximum of 1” square paper to reinforce each welded joint. You may not coat the entire length of the balsa with hot glue. Remember, “only where the members touch.” You may not coat the entire length of the balsa with hot glue. Remember, “only where the members touch.” You have a maximum of 20 days to solve the design/build case study. You have a maximum of 20 days to solve the design/build case study. The base of the tower cannot exceed 10” x 10”. The base of the tower cannot exceed 10” x 10”.

6. Possible Solutions HypothesisTested Results Theory on how it will work Static Load held, weight of tower & Stability (explain what happened for each solution when tested) Prototype #1) Prototype #2) Prototype #3)

7. Picture of Prototype #1 Construction

8. Picture of Prototype #2 Construction

9. Picture of Prototype #3 Construction

10. The Final Solution Give a detailed description of your Final Design. Give a detailed description of your Final Design. Why did you include certain features into your final design? Why did you include certain features into your final design? Describe why you rejected certain design features from your final design? Describe why you rejected certain design features from your final design? Question? Can you mathematically calculate how tall you can build your tower with one- quarter pound of balsa wood – #75 balsa wood two foot sticks? Question? Can you mathematically calculate how tall you can build your tower with one- quarter pound of balsa wood – #75 balsa wood two foot sticks? 1.Measure and record the total length of the material that your final prototype used in its’ construction.

11. Day #2 Add picture Add picture

12. Day #4 Add Picture Add Picture

13. Day #6 Add picture Add picture

14. Day #8 Add picture Add picture

15. Test Results and Conclusions COPY QUESTIONS INTO MICROSOFT WORD AND ANSWER 1. List the total height to the nearest 1/16 th of an inch for your tower? 2. What was the weight of your tower in grams? 3. Did your design solution meet all the design criteria and stay within the design constraints? Did your tower reach the minimum height of 32 inches? If not, what prevented your team from reaching your goal? 4. Did your tower support 15lbs? If not, explain what failed? 5. If the answer is NO, what did you have to change in either the design criteria or constrains? 6. What was the total load that your tower supported for 30 seconds? 7. What was the ratio of load to weight of the tower (ex. 20000:1 grams)? 8. Did your tower survive the rock and roll earthquake test for 30 seconds? 9. If the answer is NO, describe what your team observed when testing the final design solution? 10. Describe/Explain what your Design/Build Team would do differently with the final solution in order to make it perform better? 11. How did your final design solution (tower) compare to the other towers tested and built in class? 12. What was the weight of your tower? 13. Create a bar graph that will compare the performance of your final tower design with the other final solutions in class? Compare 1-heights, 2-total weights of the towers and 3-the maximum load supported of each tower. 14. What did your team observe during high frequency earthquake test such as compression, torque, flex? Describe in detail. 15. What did you find the most difficult part of this case study – explain in a few sentences? 16. Explain what you liked the most about this case study? 17. Explain in a sentence or two what could we change in the activity to make it more interesting for students? 18. List the tools used to construct the tower. 19. How many feet of balsa wood sticks did you use? 20. Each group member write a two paragraph evaluation on the project – was it interesting, too difficult, not enough time, plenty of time, very thought provoking, likes, dislikes, how your group worked – shared responsibilities, one sided, did not work well etc. Write your name at the beginning of your evaluation. 21. CAD Drawing – Top and Side view with dimensions. Each group member will produce a CAD drawing of tehir towers final design.

16. TIMELINE Research Report – 1 class period (1) Research Report – 1 class period (1) 3 possible solution sketches – 1 class period (2) 3 possible solution sketches – 1 class period (2) Construct and test 1 story model of each possible solution – 6-7 class periods (8-9) Construct and test 1 story model of each possible solution – 6-7 class periods (8-9) Construct Final Solution - 8 class periods (16) Construct Final Solution - 8 class periods (16) Presentations and Testing 1-2 class periods (17- 18) Presentations and Testing 1-2 class periods (17- 18) Documentation Report – 2 class periods (20) Documentation Report – 2 class periods (20)

17. GRADING HEIGHT Tower Height: Tower Height: a. 32” Pass = 100A+ b. For every 3” above the 30” required height you will earn 1 point as long as it holds the required weight c. Below the required height you will receive an 0 F for that portion of the project

18. GRADING WEIGHT/EQ Weight: Weight: a. Must hold 15 lbs. of static load at the tower’s top for 30 seconds = 100A+ b. For every second that it does not hold the weight you will lose 5 points – no tenths of seconds c. For the maximum static load the formula for figuring out the strongest tower will be this formula: Height of the Tower x Weight held for 30 seconds Earthquake: Earthquake: a. Tower must hold for 30 seconds on the “EQ” machine = 100A+

19. Project Grading Research Report – 10% Research Report – 10% 3 possible solution sketches – 10% 3 possible solution sketches – 10% 3 solution models (constructed & tested) – 10% 3 solution models (constructed & tested) – 10% Worksheet for possible solutions – 5% Worksheet for possible solutions – 5% Prototype – 35% Prototype – 35% Height – 10% Weight 15 lbs. – 15% EQ – 10% Documentation – 30% Documentation – 30% Presentation – 10% Presentation – 10% CAD Drawing of Final Solution – 10% CAD Drawing of Final Solution – 10%

20. The End Begin Case Study #2 “Mag-Lev Vehicles”