Whole Lot of Hull
What is the maximum ratio of reinforcement thickness to total thickness?
50%
What is the maximum hydraulic cement amount (percent) of total cementitious materials (by mass)?
40 percent (changed from 50% last year)
How long is the Q&A session after the 5-minute presentation?
A maximum of 7 minutes
What are the dimensions that the project display cannot exceed?
4ft wide x 8ft long x 7ft high
What system of units should be used in the Tech Paper?
English Units
What is the minimum percent open area of any layer of reinforcing material?
40%
How many different concrete mix designs can be used on the canoe?
Three
How many participants can be registered and what are the gender rules?
10 participants
- no more than five she/her/hers
- no more than five he/him/his
- they/them/their can participate in either and stick to the choice the whole comp
What space must the cross-section fit within?
Must fit within a 4 ft wide by 4 ft long by 7 foot high space, separate from the main product display
Name three topic areas that must be covered in the Letter of Intent and Qualification Form.
Project Scope, Project Goals, Project Management Plan, Health and Safety Program, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program, Sustainability Overview, Key Personnel Role Description
What does a team do if the swamp test is not passed?
Teams who fail swamp will be required to add additional flotation materials until the canoe does pass the flotation test. All flotation devices added must be under the gunwale line.
Within the canoe, what is the primary reinforcement, and what is the secondary reinforcement?
Mesh is a primary reinforcement, and fibers are a secondary reinforcement
Where will the national competition be held this year (name the uni, city, and state)?
Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia
What is the size range of the lettering and where must it be located on the boat?
4-6 inches tall, located above the waterline
On what date are the Technical Execution Package, Mix Design Sheets, and Materials Notebook due for the symposia competition (digital submission)?
February 12, 2026 by 5pm EST
Name 3 required components of the structural analysis section.
1. All load cases, highlighting the governing load case(s)
2. Free-body diagram for the governing load case(s)
3. Minimum required strength (stress, tensile stress, punching sheer stress)
4. Moment of inertia and neutral axis location
5. Analysis methods used to calculate freeboard under four-person load
6. If FEA of 3D analysis are used, compare 2D vs 3D results
What 3 things must be included for each material in the MTDS Summary Table?
Manufacturer, product, and applicable standard
What are two explicitly prohibited pieces of equipment in or on the canoe during races?
Straps, seatbelts, Velcro, suction cups, or any items that attach the paddler to the canoe or interfere with safe egress (way to exit)
What kind of sealer can be applied to the canoe? Name the two types of sealers allowed.
Only clear, non-pigmented sealers may be applied.
1. silane or siloxane based penetrating sealer with VOC ≤ 350 g/L
OR
2. liquid membrane forming compound for curing and sealing compliant with ASTM C1315 requirements (no VOC requirements for this option)
What is the submission platform that ASCE uses for ALL digital deliverables?
Cerberus Web Client
What is one thing that teams are explicitly not permitted to do to their reinforcing mesh?
Once fabricated, materials can not be treated:
- by applying coatings
- by applying heat
* "as-received" in the text: commercially availability, start with product from manufacturer and don't modify
What is one of the two requirements that limit the amount of hydrated lime?
1. Hydrated lime may be used but is limited to 5% (by mass)
2. The combined total of hydraulic cement and hydrated lime must not exceed 40%.
While hydrated lime is permitted, quicklime is not allowed in the canoe's construction.
How can you become eligible as a Wild Card team? Name all three ways.
1. Rank in the top 1/3 of all Annual Student Chapter Reports
2. Submit a Statement of Interest, signed by the Dept. Chair and ASCE faculty advisor
3. Finish in the top 1/2 of their respective Symposium Competition
What are four things that must be included on the display?
1. Samples of aggregates, cementitious materials, and fibers in clear, labeled containers
2. Individual samples of each aggregate and composite sample(s) of aggregates blended in the same proportions as used in the concrete mix
3. Concrete cylinders from each mixture, split into two halves
4. Raw reinforcement samples, including mesh, grids, strips, tendons, bars, representative of the materials used in the canoe
5. Individual samples of each cementitious materials and any fibers used in the concrete mixtures
6. One hard copy each of the tech paper, Mix Design & Material Compliance Sheets, and the Materials Notebook
7. Infographic from the Technical Execution Package, displayed for viewers
To what accuracy must the concrete slump be reported to?
Concrete slump must be reported to an accuracy of 1/4 inch