Hazardous Cargo Transportation System Student Materials

STUDENT

WHY DOES THIS PROJECT MATTER?

Figure 1: Diesel Train Carrying Fuel Through Mountains

Safely transporting hazardous and/or fragile materials is common in our modern world. Many types of engineers are involved with this type of activity. Mechanical and civil engineers design most of the systems that move these materials. The primary design goal of such systems is to carry a given object to its destination. Often, the starting point, path taken, or destination bring dangerous cargoes close to environmentally sensitive or populated areas where the consequences of an accident are serious and many times life threatening. Figure 1 shows a long train climbing into the mountains in a western state. This train is transporting fuel coal that could pollute mountain streams if the train derailed!

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?

To simulate such design goals, you and your team will design, fabricate, and test a system that transports an egg (a fragile object), which might even be rotten (a fragile, hazardous object), across the floor. You will have four hours to develop and test prototypes. After four hours, all teams' will gather for testing. Your system must:

• travel for at least five feet and stop before hitting a wall (figure 2),

• your entire system must travel at least two feet,

• the egg mounted on your vehicle must travel to within one foot of the wall.

Figure 2: Testing Course Layout

There are no restrictions on the dimensions of your system provided that your entire system moves at least two feet toward the wall. The system will start from rest (i.e., release by hand but not pushed by hand). The egg must be mounted on the forward edge of the system with at least half the egg exposed beyond the leading edge of the system. There cannot be any protective devices that shield the egg once the system is at rest as close to the wall as possible. Eggs (grade A, medium) will be provided.

WHAT EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS CAN WE USE?

You can build your transport system using any tools and equipment you need. Your system can be made and powered using any of the following materials but no others (please bring to class any items from this list that you wish to use):

• string

• aluminum and tin cans (opened or unopened)

• spaghetti

• cardboard (including corrugated)

• cardboard rolls (such as paper towel and toilet paper)

• paper

• glue

• paper clips

• rubber bands

• tape (Scotch type)

• balloons

• plastic straws

• plastic soda bottles and milk jugs

• wire coat hangers

• aluminum foil

HOW WILL WE KNOW HOW WELL WE HAVE SUCCEEDED?

The Basic Performance Requirement for your hazardous Cargo Transport System is that the entire system move at least two feet and that the egg travels to within one foot of the wall undamaged. An Extra Performance Index (EPI) will be calculated for your system taking into account your systems transport time and how close your system carries the egg to the wall. Your EPI is calculated using the formula:

EPI = Distance from wall (feet) x Time (seconds)

By timing your system's transport time, a practical emphasis is given to the length of time hazardous cargo is exposed to risk. To demonstrate your system's precision, we take into account how close your systems carries its hazardous cargo to a solid wall.

WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE USEFUL TO KNOW?

The transport system that your team builds must take into account the following:

1. A power system or "engine" that will move the egg towards the wall.

2. A braking system that will ensure that the egg will not hit and break against the wall.

3. A means to travel across the floor such as wheels or a levitation device.

4. A way to firmly hold, support, or cradle the egg.

5. A vehicle body or some other device to attach the different subsystems (engine, brakes, wheels, and egg cradle).

Your team must consider these and other issues when you plan, construct, and test your vehicle. The BEST way to successfully accomplish these tasks is to work together as a team. By working as a team, you should:

• discuss each team member's ideas for each subsystem,

• divide the construction of each subsystem among team members,

• test each subsystem as best you can before completely assembling your vehicle,

• help each other overcome unforeseen problems when they arise,

• and most importantly, support and encourage each other.

There are many possible designs and several obvious designs that you might arrive at. There are also many pitfalls, so you should not get discouraged. Again, working as a team will help generate solutions to these problems.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

When you are building your system, you must be aware of your teammates and neighbors. Be careful where you step and sit; you do not want to accidentally damage their system, and you do not want them to damage yours. Be careful when handling the eggs. Even if your system is designed well to protect the egg, you must also be careful. When you design anything, those who you design for and with will have more confidence in you and your abilities if you act responsibly.