3.1 Design

  1. Maximum height of the structure lying above the yellow zone (refer Figure 2.1) can be 0.10m.

  2. Minimum clearance of the structure lying above the red zone (refer Figure 2.1) should be 0.30m.

  3. The structure must have 3 slots above the loading line where screws can be pierced through. The screws would be tightened using nuts and washers. A plate would be attached to the top part of the screw where weights would be kept. The weight of each screw-plate-weight system would be 4 kilograms(within an error limit of 2%).The diameter of the screw used will be 11 mm(within an error limit of 10%). The set up is shown below.



  4. The minimum distance between these screws must be 0.10m and minimum distance of the screw from edge of the structure above the loading line must be 0.05m.

  5. Structure should necessarily have a closed roof(except for those 3 slots). A roof is defined as part of the structure lying vertically above the red zone covering the red zone completely. This clause will be tested by passing a 'Natraj' pencil (diameter 8 mm) through gaps in roof. If any gap is more than a circle of diameter 8 mm, i.e. a 'Natraj' pencil passes through the gap, then roof will be considered as open and the team will be disqualified.


3.2 Materials to be used

  1. Popsicle sticks (refer Figure 3.1) and standard adhesives can only be used to build the structure.

  2. Adhesive can only be used to join popsicle sticks together; however adhesives cannot be applied on the free surface of a member made of popsicle sticks to increase its strength (Adhesives such as m-seal are not allowed).

  3. The popsicle sticks can be cut or trimmed to any shape or size.

  4. Structures build using any other materials except the one mentioned above will be disqualified.



Figure 3.1

3.3 Test Conditions

  1. Pre stressed structure can not be kept on the ply-board.

  2. The structure will be loaded with weights (as specified in point 3.1.3) and under loaded condition a box as shown below will be passed through the Red Zone.



Figure 3.2

3.4 Definition of Failure

  1. Structure fails to satisfy any of the constraints specified above.

  2. Any part of the structure touches any point on the board except the yellow area marked over the ply-board during the course of testing.

  3. Any part of the structure touches the box at any point of time during the testing.

  4. Structure breaks and is not in a condition to carry the load over it.


3.5 Winning Criteria

The lightest structure which fulfills all the given constraints and successfully passes the above mentioned tests will be declared as the winner.



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