ABOUT
CONTACT
Our earlier workdays, during fall quarter, focus mainly on testing. We conduct sieve tests and several types of strength tests (triaxial, etc.) in order to gather data. We work together to come up with the best design for paper reinforcements and how to arrange them onto the poster board-wall.
As it gets closer to competition, we begin to do practice builds. This consists of one or more 4-person teams going through the entire competition process in order to work on speed, accuracy, and precision. These practice builds additionally serve as a learning experience to help us improve our design.
RESOURCES
Our project’s objective is to work in a team to build a small-scale, paper-reinforced, model mechanically stabilized earth wall.
We will compete in 2 competitions for the 2014-2015 school year:
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National GeoWall Competition held during the International Foundations Conference and Equipment Expo 2015 on 03/18/2015
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ASCE PSWC (Pacific Southwest Conference) 2015
History of the project:
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Began at UCLA in 2010
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Have been accepted to and competing in Nationals every year since 2011
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2013: Received 4th place at PSWC
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2014: Received 5th place at PSWC
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2015: Received 6th place at Geo-Congress
HOLDING THE SOIL BACK
Each team must fabricate all their reinforcing elements from a single sheet of approximately 24˝ × 24˝Kraft paper using authorized construction tools.
REINFORCMENT FABRICATION STAGE
LOADING STAGE
This stage occurs in two steps: 1) removal of front & side panels, and 2) placement of vertical surcharge. The team will be penalized for excessive soil loss, excessive deformation, and catastrophic failure.
After each team’s reinforcing elements have been fabricated and weighed, the team will be provided with two sheets of poster-board (22˝ × 28˝) and a roll of packaging tape. The team must assemble their wall using these materials and authorized construction tools.
WORKDAYS
THE STAGES
During this stage the team fills the box with sand and places the empty 5 gallon vertical surcharge bucket on top of the sand.
CONSTRUCTION STAGE
SPONSORSHIP
MATERIALS NEEDED
No matter how large or small the project is, keeping budget is always a concern. And in any student-run organization, raising money is a major issue. It would be an understatement to say how grateful and appreciative the members of GeoWall will be if you could donate the following. Please contact Project Manger Rhonda El-Hachache, Project Director Clint Bannout, CalGeo treasurer John Stoian, or ASCE Treasurer Zach McFann if you are interested in sponsoring the team.
HOW TO JOIN
Feel free to show up to our workdays anytime throughout the year! We will mainly meet in the soils lab Boelter Hall 1567. There is no prior knowledge or experience required to participate. Work days will be posted on our website, or you may contact our project managers more directly:
Can anyone come to workdays, even if it gets closer to competition?
Yes! Anyone is helpful at any time.
Do I have to know about geotechnical engineering to be in GeoWall?
Not at all! Absolutely NO experience necessary. This is an enjoyable learning experience.
FAQ
WALL ASSEMBLY STAGE
Poster board for practice.
Sand (Clean, dry, rounded to subrounded sand)
Plywood for the box.
Kraft paper for practice
GEOWALL
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4-6 PM
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BH 1567
TUES
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10 AM-12 PM
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BH 1567
THUR
PROJECT WORKDAYS/EVENTS
During the past two quarters, GeoWall completed laboratory tests, introduced new members to several lab tests, and introduced sieve analysis and triaxial. They also wrote the final report which was submitted at Nationals. They did practice builds with the test design to prepare for competition. They placed 6th at the recent National Competition in San Antonio, TX.
Where are they now?
