Students display creativity at annual engineering expo

A member of team 7 displays some of the new siding from their project their Design of Moisture and Thermal Barrier Siding Systems for Residential Construction Projects during the annual UIC Engineering Design Expo

Civil, materials, and environmental engineering students displayed creativity during the annual UIC Engineering Design Expo at the Credit Union 1 Arena on April 19.

The expo featured teams from across the College of Engineering who solved real-world engineering problems as part of a required senior design course. More than 150 judges, including Chicago-area engineering professionals, alumni, and former COE faculty, participated in the event.

The student teams created a wide variety of projects, including an environment-friendly siding system, a canoe made from concrete, the rehabilitation of a bridge built in 1927, and much more. Learn about all the projects at Engineering Expo 2024.

A New Siding System

Team 7, consisting of Laith Almhimedawy, Ali Amer, Ibrahim Darawad, Yousef Motan, and Cesar Lomeli Pulido, presented their Design of Moisture and Thermal Barrier Siding Systems for Residential Construction Projects.

The project uses recycled polyethylene terephthalate plastic (PET) to create a more efficient and environment-friendly alternative to conventional siding.

The system acts as a highly efficient thermal and moisture barrier by reducing thermal bridging and the amount of moisture that infiltrates the exterior building envelope, often creating mold problems for homeowners. It leverages PET’s unique properties, including resistance to weathering, durability, and fire resistance.

In addition, the siding systems will have an innovative connection design that is easy to install and can accommodate a wide range of insulation materials and finishing surfaces.

Concrete Canoe

Team 13, which is made up of Jimena Adame, Nathan Agoncillo, Christopher Brown, Alexander Schroth, Sebastian Stankiewicz, and Dominik Wieckowicz, worked on the Design and Construction of the UIC Concrete Canoe.

The students designed and built a concrete canoe used during the recent American Society of Civil Engineers competition, which challenged the students’ knowledge of the mechanical properties of concrete and different construction techniques.

The team’s goal was to optimize the hull design, construction processes and techniques, structural analysis, and concrete mix design.

The hull was designed to optimize top speed and buoyancy force to create a fast canoe that would not sink. The construction process aimed to revolutionize the traditional method used by the team by incorporating plastic films to quicken the process as well as utilize tensile support along the gunwales to prevent major cracking. The structural analysis confirmed that the canoe will not fail due to the compressive, tensile, and punching shear forces the canoe will experience while floating on the water. The mix design process mainly involved executing several combinations of mix types with varying amounts of lightweight materials and combinations.

1927 Bridge Rehabilitation

Team 1, consisting of Emad Alkhashani, Ruby Cardenas, Noor Dawood, Catherine Lopez, and Genesis Rivera Rodriguez, presented the Rehabilitation of 1927 Cicero Avenue over the Sanitary and Ship Canal Bascule Bridge.

The bridge was constructed in 1927 and has a rich history reflecting the engineering structural creativity of a patented double-leaf bascule bridge, allowing maritime traffic to pass through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. As a historical mark, it appears as an evolution of Chicago’s structural and transportation engineering system.

However, recent inspections show the bridge is due for a more sustainable design.

This project aims to provide a safe design that encapsulates the bridge’s history while integrating new materials.

The materials being analyzed as options are stainless steel and carbon steel, making the bridge safer. The materials will also be tested to develop a sustainable evaluation of their cost-effective design while incorporating a modern edge and preserving the historic aspect.