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Please Email Any Questions or Comments to glc2009@gmail.com In an effort to share requested information among participating schools, all questions and answers will be posted here. Question: Concrete Golf Competition "It says the entire ball be made of concrete. Does this mean that fiber reinforcing is not allowed? Also it says that painting or staining is not allowed, but how about having an additive that changes that color of the golf ball?" Answer: Fibers are allowed as part of the concrete golf ball, as it is a material that is typically found in concrete. Also, an additive to the concrete to change it's color is allowed. This is because the additive does not add false strength to the concrete; it is solely cosmetic. Feb. 3, 2009 "The rules state that the clubs be made of structural steel. Can padding, such as ping pong paddle material, be placed in the head of the clubs? Also can the shaft of the clubs be filled with lead or another metal?" Answer: Per rule 2.3 b, the club is to be made of /only/ structural steel. Therefore, no materials may be place in the head of the club, and the shaft may not be filled with another metal unless it is also classified as a structural steel. Feb. 9, 2009 "Is there a specific loading point to load the bridge? If so, how many possible loading points and will the loading block be centered at the loading point? Also, can the loading block be rotated at an angle?" Answer: You will be able to choose your own loading point as long as the square plate is able to be placed on the bridge from above and that the plate is completely within the span of the supports. You will only be able to designate one loading point. Rotating the loading block at an angle will be allowed, but after the initial loading has begun no additional movements will be allowed. Feb. 9, 2009 "Rule 6(a) states that the bridge must span a gorge of 300 mm, while the length of the bridge maybe vary from 400 mm to 600 mm, does that mean the minimum length of the bridge will have to be 400 mm? If the overall length of the bridge is 350 mm, will it be able to rest on the supports and be satisfied with the rules?" Answer: The minimum length of the bridge must be 400 mm so that it will fully rest on each support. This is because there must be room for a 50 mm support on both sides. If your bridge is only 350 mm it may rest on the supports, but it will not meet the minimum requirement and will thusly be disqualified. Feb. 9, 2009 "Rule 6(d) states that the roadway should be flat. Is it required to provide a roadway from one support to the other support continuously?" Answer: Yes, there must be a continuous, flat roadway from one support to the other. Feb. 9, 2009 " If a roadway is required, is it required to make the entire roadway stiff enough to accommodate the possible loading point(s)? If there will be only one loading point, can the bridge just be optimized for a single loading point and provide a roadway, but the roadway will be ineligible to carry any loads?" Answer: You do not need to make the entire roadway stiff enough to accommodate the possible loading point. The loading block will be placed from above. Depending on the design of your bridge and whether there is horizontal bracing above the roadway, the loading block may or may not lie on the road surface. You may also rotate the loading block to avoid loading directly on the roadway surface. Feb. 9, 2009 " Rule 6(b) states that the bridge must rest on the supports, but can the bridge be busted against the supports?" Answer: No, there may not be any supports under the span of the bridge. Feb. 18, 2009 " Your answer states that there must be a continuous, flat roadway from one support to the other, while rule 6(c) states that the width of the bridge is required to be 100 mm. Based on my interpretation of the rules, is it true that the bridge will have to have a 100mm wide x 400mm long "rectangular block" type of roadway to satisfy for the requirement, because the minimum length of the bridge must be 400 mm. And how am I supposed to contruct the flat roadway when the thickness of each member is limited to be 9.5 mm by 9.5 mm?" Answer: Sorry for the confusion concerning the roadway-- it must span the width of 100mm and may not be thicker than 9.5mm. However, the roadway is an exception to the cross-sectional area rule, seeing as it must be 100 mm wide. Feb. 18, 2009 " Are the overhangs of the supports rigid?" Answer: The overhangs of the support that you are resting your bridge on are rigid. Whether or not you make the actual overhangs of your bridge rigid is up to you. Feb. 18, 2009 " Can you provide the dimension of the bar which is attached from the loading block to the container so that I can provide cross bracings to the bridge?" Answer: The bridge will be loaded from above. A loading plate will be placed onto the bridge from above with no bar attached at all. The weights will be placed on top of the loading plate.
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