Towers B

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Towers B C 2010-11

• CeAnn Chalker
• ceann_at_chalker.org

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Disclaimer

• This presentation was prepared using draft rules.
  There may be some changes in the final copy of
  the rules. The rules which will be in your
  Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the
  official rules.

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Towers

• Students will design and build the lightest
  structure holding the greatest amount of weight.

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General Rules

• Only 1 structure entered per team
• No Impound
• Testing maximum load 15 kg
• Students must wear goggles
• Towers must be marked by team so judges can
  identify them
• Tower is a single structure (no separate or
  detachable pieces)

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Towers Construction

• Towers must be made of only wood and bonding glue
  (any type of glue)
• No particle board, plywood, beaverboard, or other
  composite wood are allowed (this includes bamboo
  and paper)
• Unlimited laminations by students is allowed
• No limit on the cross section size of individual
  pieces of wood

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Towers Parameters

• Must accommodate a loading block that is 5.0cm x
  5.0cm x 2.0cm w/a ¼ inch diameter hole in the
  center
• Height All parts of the loading block must be a
  minimum 50.0 cm above the platform (no max.)
• The base of the Tower must span the testing
  platform which has a 20.0 cm x 20.0 cm square
  opening

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Towers Parameters

• No portion of the Tower may extend below the top
  surface of the testing platform
• The Tower may not be braced against the edge of
  the Test Base
• After set up, the Tower may only contact the
  Loading Block and the Test Base

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Towers Parameters

• Division B Parameters
• The portion of the tower more than 30.0 cm above
  the test base must pass through an 8.0 cm
  diameter hole or opening
• Division C Parameters
• The portion of the tower more than15 cm above the
  test base must pass through an 8.0 cm diameter
  hole or opening

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Towers Testing

• A chain and bucket will be suspended from the
  loading block
• Structures will be tested by loading sand into
  the bucket up to 15 kg.
• Students will be the only ones to handle their
  structures

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Towers Testing contd

• Students may adjust the tower until they begin
  loading the sand
• Teams are given 10 minutes to load the sand into
  the bucket

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Towers Testing contd

• Sand loading stops
• When failure of the tower occurs
• When maximum load is supported (15 kg)
• When the chain comes in contact with the tower
• When any part of the tower extends below the top
  surface of the Test Base

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Towers Testing contd

• Load Supported includes
• Loading block
• Eyebolt
• Washer
• Wing nut
• Bucket
• Sand

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Towers Scoring Formula

• Score Load Supported (grams)2/Mass of
  Tower(grams)
• Highest Score wins
• Tie Breaker
• Ties will be broken in favor of the lighter
  structure

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Towers Tiers

• 1st Tier
• Tower meets all Construction Parameters
• 2nd Tier
• Tower does not meet one or more Construction
  Parameters

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Towers Tiers contd

• 3rd Tier
• Structure can not be tested for any reason will
  be ranked by the lowest mass