Concrete canoe explained

A concrete canoe is a canoe made of concrete, typically created for an engineering competition.

In spirit, the event is similar to that of a cardboard boat race - make the seemingly unfloatable float. However, since concrete and other poured surfaces are an integral part of a civil engineer's education, concrete canoes typically feature more development than cardboard boats.

Principles

Ignoring hydrodynamic effects, all ships or boats float because the weight of the water they displace is equal to the weight of the boat (Archimedes' principle). However, many boats are made of materials that are denser than water, meaning that the boat will sink if filled with water.

Being designed for an engineering competition, concrete canoes often make use of experimental or innovative concrete mix designs or fabrication processes, such as 3D-printed formworks,[1] [2] smart dynamic casting,[3] or 3D-printed concrete.[4]

Although it is not required by the rules of the competition, some competitive concrete canoes have concrete mix designs that are less dense than water. They must pass a test in which the canoe is filled with water and pushed below the surface; the canoe must then resurface in order to qualify for racing. This is possible because, unlike normal concrete which uses sand and small rocks, concrete canoes are created with porous aggregates such as Macrolite and microspheres. However, because many teams still design their concrete mixes to be denser than water, in the United States, teams are allowed to insert concrete-covered, non-structural foam pieces in their canoes to make the canoes float after being submerged.

ASCE National Competition

The ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) National Concrete Canoe Competition (NCCC) provides students with a practical application of the engineering principles they learn in the classroom, along with important team and project management skills they will need in their careers. The event challenges the students' knowledge, creativity and stamina, while showcasing the versatility and durability of concrete as a building material.

Each year, the NCCC, which is held in mid-June, is hosted by an ASCE Student Organization. Some 200 university teams attempt to qualify for the NCCC by placing first in one of the 18 conference competitions held throughout the United States during the spring. Until 2018, teams placing second in a conference competition behind a university that finished in the top five at the previous year's national competition are also invited. This was replaced by the Wild Card drawing in 2018. If the Concrete Canoe team was part of a student chapter that placed within the top one-third of all annual reports, and the team finished within the top half of all teams in their regional competition, the team was eligible for the Wild Card drawing. Of all qualifying team, six were randomly drawn to attend the 2018 National Concrete Competition. To be eligible to compete in the Concrete Canoe Competition, the entrant school must be a recognized ASCE Student Chapter or ASCE International Student Group. Typically, frontrunners include University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of Nevada, Reno, University of Florida, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, the University of California at Berkeley, Clemson University, École de technologie supérieure, Université Laval, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The winners of the ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition are determined by compiling the team's total number of points from the academic and race portions of the competition. Academic scholarships totaling $9,000 are awarded to the winning teams' undergraduate civil engineering program.

History

Concrete Canoe competition in the United States began in the 1960s, when a small number of ASCE student chapters began holding intramural Concrete Canoe races. Then, in the 1971, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign held the first intercollegiate race against Purdue.[5] In the more than 45 years since, the students’ efforts to combine engineering excellence and hydrodynamic design to construct water-worthy canoes have culminated in an advanced form of concrete construction and racing technique known as the “America’s Cup of Civil Engineering.”

In 1981 as part of the FIP congress in Stockholm, Sweden there was the 1st FIP international concrete canoe race.[6] won by the Danish team from Technical University of Denmark.[7] inspired by Herbert Krenchel

In 1988, ASCE expanded the competition to the national level, when Master Builders, Inc. (now known as BASF) signed-on to become the sole corporate sponsor for the event. In its first year, 18 teams of enthusiastic civil engineering students from the nation's premier academic programs gathered in East Lansing, Mich., to test the waters of this innovative and educational event. Over the next two decades, the competition became a great success, with regional winners traveling across the country by plane, train and Ryder truck, canoes in tow, in their quest to become National Concrete Canoe Competition champions.

As competition was developing in the United States, the idea had also taken hold in other countries. Today, concrete canoe racing happens around the world in places like Germany, South Africa, Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates; and with sponsorship from ASCE and the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the 2007 National Concrete Canoe Competition winning team, University of Wisconsin - Madison, travelled to the Netherlands to represent the United States in the 30th Annual Dutch Concrete Canoe Challenge.

The Concrete Canoe Competition is designed to provide civil engineering students with an opportunity to gain hands-on, practical experience and leadership skills by working with concrete mix designs and project management. Organizers, sponsors and participants are dedicated to building awareness of concrete technology and application, as well as the versatility and durability of concrete as a construction material, among civil engineering students, educators, practitioners, the concrete industry and the general public. They also strive to increase awareness among industry leaders, opinion makers and the general public of civil engineering as a dynamic and innovative profession essential to society. In its history, the National Concrete Canoe Competition has challenged the knowledge, creativity and stamina of more than 400 teams and 5000 students. In 2008, more than 200 teams competed in 18 conference competitions to qualify for participation at the national level.

Past winners

Year[8] Host CityHost SchoolChampionSecond PlaceThird Place
1988East Lansing, MichiganMichigan State UniversityUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of New HampshireUniversity of Akron
1989Lubbock, TexasTexas Tech UniversityUniversity of California, BerkeleyMichigan State UniversityUniversity of New Hampshire
1990Buffalo, New YorkState University of New YorkMichigan State UniversityUniversity of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of California, Berkeley
1991Orlando, FloridaUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of Maryland, College ParkState University of New York at Buffalo
1992Fort Collins, ColoradoColorado State UniversityUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of Alabama, HuntsvilleUniversity of New Orleans
1993Sacramento, CaliforniaCalifornia State University, SacramentoUniversity of Alabama, HuntsvilleMichigan State UniversityUniversity of California, Berkeley
1994New Orleans, LouisianaUniversity of New OrleansUniversity of Alabama, HuntsvilleUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of New Orleans
1995Washington, D.C.George Washington UniversitySouth Dakota School of Mines & TechnologyCalifornia State University, SacramentoMichigan State University
1996Madison, WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin at MadisonUniversity of Alabama, HuntsvilleMichigan State UniversityUniversity of California, Berkeley
1997Cleveland, OhioCleveland State UniversityFlorida Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Alabama, HuntsvilleUniversity of California, Berkeley
1998Rapid City, South DakotaSouth Dakota School of Mines & TechnologyUniversity of Alabama, HuntsvilleCalifornia State University, SacramentoClemson University
1999Melbourne, FloridaFlorida Institute of TechnologyClemson UniversityUniversity of Alabama, HuntsvilleOklahoma State University
2000Golden, ColoradoColorado School of MinesClemson UniversityOklahoma State UniversityFlorida Institute of Technology
2001San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego State UniversityUniversity of Alabama, HuntsvilleClemson UniversityOklahoma State University
2002Madison, WisconsinUniversity of WisconsinClemson UniversityUniversité LavalOklahoma State University
2003Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDrexel UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversité LavalUniversity of California, Berkeley
2004Washington, D.C.The Catholic University of AmericaUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversité LavalUniversity of Alabama, Huntsville
2005Clemson, South CarolinaClemson UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonClemson UniversityMichigan Technological University
2006Stillwater, OklahomaOklahoma State UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoClemson University
2007Seattle, WashingtonUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Nevada, Reno
2008École de technologie supérieureUniversity of Nevada, RenoUniversity of California, BerkeleyÉcole de technologie supérieure
2009Tuscaloosa, AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaUniversity of California, BerkeleyCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
2010California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversity of Nevada, RenoÉcole de technologie supérieure
2011University of EvansvilleCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversité Laval
2012University of Nevada, RenoCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversité LavalMichigan Technological University
2013University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignÉcole de technologie supérieureUniversity of Nevada, RenoUniversity of Florida
2014University of Pittsburgh at JohnstownUniversity of Nevada, RenoCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversité Laval
2015Clemson, South CarolinaClemson UniversityUniversity of FloridaCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversity of California, Berkeley
2016Tyler, TexasUniversity of Texas at TylerÉcole de technologie supérieureUniversity of California, Los AngelesUniversity of Nevada, Reno
2017Golden, ColoradoColorado School of MinesCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Akron
2018San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego State UniversityCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversity of FloridaUniversité Laval
2019Florida Institute of TechnologyUniversity of FloridaCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversité Laval
2020Not held due to COVID-19University of WisconsinNot held due to COVID-19Not held due to COVID-19Not held due to COVID-19
2021Held VirtuallyUniversity of WisconsinUniversity of FloridaYoungstown State University
2022Ruston, LouisianaCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoUniversité LavalWestern Kentucky University
2023[9] Platteville, WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin-PlattevilleCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoYoungstown State UniversityUniversity of Florida
2024Provo, UtahBrigham Young UniversityUniversity of FloridaUniversité LavalCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Championship Records!University!Championships!Championship Years!Runner-ups!Runner-up Years!3rd Place!3rd Place Years
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo72010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2022, 202342006, 2014, 2015, 201922009, 2024
51993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 200131992, 1997, 199912004
University of Wisconsin, Madison52003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 200712011
University of California, Berkeley51988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 200921994, 200861990, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2015
University of Florida42015, 2019, 2021, 202432007, 2017, 201822014, 2023
Clemson University31999, 2000, 200222001, 200521998, 2005
University of Nevada, Reno22008, 201422010, 201322007, 2016
22013, 20161200922008, 2010
Michigan State University1199031989, 1993, 199611995
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology11995
Florida Institute of Technology1199712000
Université Laval62002, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2022, 202442011, 2014, 2018, 2019
University of Maryland, College Park21990, 1991
California State University, Sacramento21995, 1998
Youngstown State University22021, 2023
University of New Hampshire1198811989
Oklahoma State University1200031999, 2001, 20032
University of California, Los Angeles12016
University of New Orleans21992, 1994
Michigan Technological University22005, 2012
University of Akron21988, 2017
State University of New York at Buffalo11991
University of Washington12021
Western Kentucky University12022

National sponsors

Sponsors include BASF, Kiewit Corporation, American Concrete Institute, Holcim, Bentley Systems, Cemex, and Propex.

Requirements and preparation

Teams of engineering students will gather for a weekend designed to be both challenging and fun. Twenty-five percent of each team's total team score will be based on the engineering design and construction principles used in the creation of their concrete canoe; 25 percent will be based on a technical design report detailing the planning, development, testing and construction of their canoe; and 25 percent will be based on a formal business presentation highlighting the canoe's design, construction, racing ability and other innovative features. The remaining 25 percent of each team's score is based on the performance of the canoe and the paddlers in five different race events: men's and women's slalom/endurance races, and men's, women's and co-ed sprint races.

For the purpose of the competition, concrete is defined as a mixture of cement, of which at least 30% (by mass) must be Portland cement, and aggregate, which must constitute at least 25% (by volume) of the mix. The aggregate need not be conventional construction aggregate (sand, etc.), but may include materials such as hollow glass beads and fibers. Epoxy is not permitted. Up to 50% of the thickness of the canoe may be a reinforcement mesh. Concrete canoe teams must design their canoes from scratch. Typically they create the shape of the hull with a computer design program specifically made for yachts, canoes, and other watercraft. The shape is optimized for racing. This hull shape is then given to a construction team, responsible for making a mold for the canoe to be formed on. A special concrete mix is designed over several months, emphasizing among other qualities, an optimal balance between strength and low density. The finalized mix design is placed on the form; the hull thickness usually ranges from about 3/8" to 3/4". Teams later spend hundreds of hours sanding and applying exterior graphics to their canoes for a nice finish. Scoring in the competition is based on the quality of construction, race performance, a design paper, and a business presentation.

Canadian Concrete Canoe

YearHost cityChampionSecond placeThird place
1995Montreal, Quebec, École de Technologie Supérieureunknownunknownunknown
1996Montreal, Quebec, École de Technologie SupérieureUniversité Lavalunknownunknown
1997Montreal, Quebec, École de Technologie SupérieureUniversité LavalUniversity of TorontoUniversité de Sherbrooke
1998Montreal, Quebec, École de Technologie SupérieureUniversity of TorontoUniversité LavalÉcole de Technologie Supérieure
1999Sherbrooke, Quebec, Université de SherbrookeÉcole de Technologie SupérieureUniversité LavalQueen's University
2000Kingston, Ontario, Queen's UniversityUniversité LavalÉcole de Technologie SupérieureQueen's University
2001Quebec City, Quebec, Laval UniversityUniversité LavalUniversity of TorontoQueen's University
2002Toronto, Ontario, University of TorontoUniversité LavalÉcole de Technologie SupérieureUniversity of Toronto
2003Montreal, Quebec, École de Technologie SupérieureUniversité LavalUniversité de SherbrookeUniversity of Toronto
2004Moncton, New Brunswick, Université de MonctonUniversité LavalUniversité de SherbrookeUniversity of Toronto
2005Windsor, Ontario, St Clair CollegeUniversité LavalRyerson UniversityDalhousie University
2006Sherbrooke, Quebec, Université de SherbrookeUniversité de SherbrookeUniversité LavalQueen's University
2007Kingston, Ontario, Queen's UniversityUniversité de SherbrookeÉcole de Technologie SupérieureUniversity of Windsor
2008École de Technologie SupérieureUniversité de SherbrookeUniversité Laval
2009Montreal, Quebec, École Polytechnique de MontréalÉcole de Technologie SupérieureUniversité LavalUniversité de Sherbrooke
2010Toronto, Ontario, University of TorontoÉcole de Technologie SupérieureUniversité LavalÉcole Polytechnique de Montréal
2011Quebec City, Quebec, Laval UniversityUniversité LavalUniversité de SherbrookeÉcole de Technologie Supérieure
2012Moncton, New Brunswick, Université de MonctonUniversité LavalUniversité de Sherbrooke
2013Montreal, Quebec, École de Technologie SupérieureUniversité de SherbrookeUniversity of Toronto
2014Sherbrooke, Quebec, Université de SherbrookeUniversité LavalUniversité de Sherbrooke
2015Toronto, Ontario, University of TorontoUniversité LavalÉcole Polytechnique de Montréal
2016Montréal, Quebec, Mcgill UniversityÉcole de Technologie SupérieureUniversité de Sherbrooke
2017Quebec City, Quebec, Université LavalÉcole Polytechnique de MontréalÉcole de Technologie Supérieure
2018Waterloo, Ontario, University of WaterlooÉcole de Technologie SupérieureÉcole Polytechnique de Montréal
2019[10] Montreal, Quebec, École Polytechnique de MontréalÉcole Polytechnique de MontréalUniversité de SherbrookeUniversité Laval
2020London, Ontario, Ontario, University of Western OntarioNot held due to COVID-19Not held due to COVID-19Not held due to COVID-19
2021 (Online)OnlineUniversity of British ColumbiaUniversity of Toronto
2022Université de SherbrookeUniversité LavalUniversité de SherbrookeUniversity of Toronto
2023London, Ontario, University of Western OntarioUniversité de SherbrookeUniversité LavalÉcole de Technologie Supérieure
2024Quebec City, Quebec, Université LavalUniversité LavalUniversité de SherbrookeÉcole de Technologie Supérieure

Statistics

14 Gold 7 Silver 1 Bronze
6 Gold 7 Silver 5 Bronze
4 Gold 8 Silver 6 Bronze
2 Gold 1 Silver 2 Bronze
1 Gold 2 Silver 5 Bronze
4 Bronze
Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) 1 Silver
1 Bronze
1 Bronze
1 Bronze
McMaster University

National news

National appearance

Concrete canoe community

Concrete canoe competitions have a significant following from both present and past competitors. The concrete canoe community now includes a dedicated concrete canoe news website, ConcreteCanoe.org, which follows competitions around the world, as well as Concrete Canoe Magazine, which publishes scientific papers, studies, and articles written on the techniques used by top teams.

See also

External links

Canadian National Concrete Canoe Competition

Notes and References

  1. Jipa . Andrei . Bernhard . Mathias . Dillenburger . Benjamin . Ruffray . Nicolas . Wangler . Timothy . Flatt . Robert J. . 2017 . skelETHon Formwork: 3D Printed Plastic Formwork for Load-Bearing Concrete Structures . Proceedings of the 21st Congreso Internacional de la Sociedad Iberoamericana de Gráfica Digital . en . Blucher . 3 . 345–352 . 10.5151/sigradi2017-054. free . 20.500.11850/237357 . free .
  2. Jipa . Andrei . Bernhard . Mathias . Ruffray . Nicolas . Wangler . Timothy . Flatt . Robert . Dillenburger . Benjamin . 2019-09-06 . Formwork fabrication freedom for a concrete canoe . Gestão & Tecnologia de Projetos . 14 . 1 . 25–44 . 10.11606/gtp.v14i1.148264 . 1981-1543. free . 20.500.11850/387459 . free .
  3. Lloret-Fritschi . Ena . Reiter . Lex . Wangler . Timothy . Gramazio . Fabio . Kohler . Matthias . Flatt . Robert J. . 2017 . Smart Dynamic Casting: Slipforming with Flexible Formwork - Inline Measurement and Control . HPC/CIC Tromsø 2017 . en . Norwegian Concrete Association . Paper no. 27 . 10.3929/ethz-b-000219663.
  4. Web site: ITE - Concrete Canoe TU Graz 2017 . 2023-08-14 . www.tugraz.at.
  5. Web site: Forty Years of Concrete Canoes.
  6. http://www.concretecanoepictures.com/Concrete_Canoe_Pictures/Correspondence_files/International_Competition.pdf
  7. Web site: 1st FIP International Concrete Canoe Race: Stockholm, June 8, 1982 : Result. 1982.
  8. https://www.asce.org/communities/student-members/conferences/asce-concrete-canoe-competition/past-winners Concrete Canoe Past Winners
  9. Web site: Concrete Canoe Competition Final Results . 2024-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203195414/https://www.asce.org/communities/student-members/conferences/asce-concrete-canoe-competition/results/ . 2023-12-03.
  10. Web site: CNCCC | CSCE Student Competitions.