Student Assignments

Assignment 1:

[Individual] Read the WJE Report Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, & Chapter 4. Review the other engineering data sources (i.e., photos and engineering drawings). Finally, review the resources page for information regarding team building strategies, problem solving, and various decision-making techniques.
[Team] Brainstorm potential construction loading scenarios or environmental effects that might have caused &/or contributed to the structural failure. Develop a list of resources for establishing the likelihood of the listed loads.
[Team] Make an oral presentation of the team findings to the class.
[Team] From the class discussions, determine the most likely type of load(s) responsible and the means of determining if your hypothesis is correct.
[Class] Compare and discuss the teams' conclusions to the specific findings of the Wiss, Janney, Elstner engineering team.

[Individual] Read the complete version of WJE Report Chapter 3.
[Team] Brainstorm a list of possible failure mechanism modes.
[Team] Determine the most likely scenario and write a short description (i.e., explain how and why).
[Team] Prepare and present an oral discussion of the teamís conclusion.
[Class] Based upon the various teams' findings, come to a class conclusion of not more than two (2) scenarios.

[Team] Using the class consensus of the most likely failure mechanism scenario(s), develop a list of suggested steps required to evaluate the (each) proposed scenario. For each scenario, develop details of loading, methods of analysis, and significant variables to be considered. Prepare a team presentation to give to the class.
[Class] Based upon each team's presentation of their findings, develop a class consensus of the two most likely scenarios responsible for the collapse.

[Team] Develop a proposed general lab setup to demonstrate one assumed failure scenario.
[Class] Each team presents their proposed lab setup to class. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each proposed lab setup and recommend potential changes.
[Team] Design a detailed lab setup including detail dimensions, loads, sensors, etc. Present your design to the instructor in a formal design review.
[Team] After the design review conference with the instructor, construct the proposed lab setup.
[Team] Conduct your test(s), videotaping the tests, and compare the experimental data with the expected results.
[Team] Develop a presentation using a presentation software application (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, etc.) of your experimental trials, videos, results, and conclusions.
[Class] Make individual team presentations of each experimental setup to the class. After each presentation, critique the experiment and make recommendations for improvements to the lab setup.
[Class] Discuss (compare and contrast) the various teams' findings and conclusions with those of the WJE consulting firm.

[Team] Review the photos of the field-modified connector plate (WJE Fig. 4.23a and Fig. 4.23b). Discuss the significance (if any) of the adjusted hole pattern vs. the design hole pattern. Include in the discussion allowable tolerances. Prepare a short presentation for the class.
[Class] Present individual team findings concerning the field-modified connector plate.