Engineering Commons^™

Coilreef™ Wave Energy Dissipation Project, Cole Ramsdale, Josh Sparrow, Kyle Archibald, Fernando Romero

Mechanical Engineering

Within this Final Design Review (FDR) report, the COILReef™ Senior Project concludes with all updates reflecting results after testing. The COILReef™ is a device ideated by Cal Poly Professor Roger Benham. It aims to provide a removeable, low-cost solution to dissipating ocean wave energy, thereby reducing coastal erosion in sensitive areas. Current permanent solutions cost millions of dollars, take years to construct, and sometimes produce undesirable and unintended effects. The work presented in this document provides the foundational research, testing, and steps taken by the team to evaluate the feasibility of the COILReef™ design as a viable solution to reducing …

Automated Mini-Tubular Ceramic Production, Hunter Brooks, Daniel Freeman, Leo Taranta-Slack

Mechanical Engineering

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory need a way to increase the rate of manufacturing of mini-tubular ceramics to be used in testing particulate air filters. This document outlines our process from researching and writing an initial scope of work all the way to fabricating and testing a final prototype. This journey takes us through the background research, ideation process and selection of a final design. We also detail the desired engineering specifications and our concept selection process. We dedicate a significant portion of this report to discussion of our final design. We delve into how it was manufactured as …

Gaf Fiberglass Mat Slitter Blade Sharpener, Mark D. Breaux, Bradley M. Smith, Esteban Carrillo, Carlos Espinoza

Mechanical Engineering

This document contains an overview for the offline slitter blade sharpening system created for GAF to sharpen their current cutting tools in a timely and safe manner without hindering the timeline and production of their assembly line. This design was developed by four undergraduate students at from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This document first investigates background information of any patents, current sharpening device, sharpening safety standards, or literature review that may be useful in a sharpening mechanism device. This document also contains our design concept prototype, which consists of three main features, the use of a top guard for …

Break The Ice Challenge, Peter Karkos, Alex Lewis, Eva Kouyate, Vy Han

Mechanical Engineering

The report documents and justifies team LEGION’s senior design project, from research and ideation to prototype manufacturing and testing. It begins by providing some background on the project and outlining the mission scenario given by NASA. This is followed by related literature on excavation of icy regolith on the moon, water transportation, lunar environment, and space law. Next, research is performed into existing products, such as patents and various designs from previous related NASA competitions.

After providing the relevant background information, focused objectives are outlined, with a problem statement, boundary sketch, and engineering specifications. The wants & needs of NASA …

Produce Sorting Aid, Annica Navarro, Jessie Boucher, Natalie Roberts, Teng Lee

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review (FDR) document intends to define the details of the Produce Sorting Aid senior project–selected by four mechanical engineering students, working under the team name Team W24. The Alameda County Community Foodbank (ACCFB) sorts bulk produce into bags or boxes for distribution to people in need of food. However, the current process is not ergonomic, time efficient, or safe for the volunteers at the ACCFB. The scope of the senior project is to design a mechanism that is ergonomic, time efficient, and safe for the volunteers to lift heavy produce and distribute the produce into bags ready …

The Preconstruction Of Foundation For A Greenhouse, Alla I. Hashim

Construction Management

This project outlines the preconstruction process for building a concrete base for a prefabricated greenhouse unit. This project was initiated by the Cal Poly Garden Club so they could plan for the installation of a greenhouse at the Student Experimental Farm on Cal Poly’s campus. The members of the club currently share a greenhouse with another Cal Poly Club which restricts their ability to use the greenhouse freely. The initial goal of the project was to request a permit, however, that will be postponed until the specific location is determined. This project still provides the necessary elements for requesting a …

Comparisons Of Concrete Slender Wall Software With Full-Scale Experiments, Gloriana M.L. Moua

Architectural Engineering

The 1980 slender wall testing was performed by the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) in efforts to analyze behavior of concrete slender walls when lateral and eccentric axial loads are applied. The testing was done with 12 tilt-up wall panels, 3 of each of the four thicknesses: 9 ½”, 7 ¼”, 5 ¾”, and 4 ¾”. What was discovered from testing was that a fixed limitation of height to thickness ratio was not a governing factor and that each case should be analyzed based off the strength and deflection of the wall. It was because of this testing …

Bathroom Remodel For Son Care Foundation, Inc., Tae Hun Kwak

Construction Management

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the process of remodeling a 42 SF bathroom for Son Care Foundation, Inc. The initial scope included the removal of an existing fiberglass bathtub, plumbing work, drywall installation, mudding, drywall texturing, new flooring, a new toilet, and a new sink. During construction, the owner requested that I add paint, an ADA-compliant sink, a new lighting fixture, a new vinyl baseboard, a new mirror, a new cabinet, new door trim, and new door hardware as part of my scope. I used what I learned in class to solve problems during the …

Paso Robles Police Department Shooting Range Electrical Installation, Shelby I. Prosch

Construction Management

The Paso Police Department has a shooting range for police officers to practice and master using firearms. A shooting range is a crucial part of police officer training to ensure public safety and correct and accurate usage of safety weapons. The construction for the shooting range began in the spring of 2021 by Cal Poly students where they laid the foundation. I became involved to further the progress of the shooting range by installing an electrical system. For that phase to begin, I completed a pre-construction package that details the materials and steps for installation. The package includes a scope …

Granulated Blast Furnace Slag And Its Effects On Concrete Mixes, Adam Jacobson

Construction Management

This paper explores what place slag, or granulated blast furnace slag has in our changing environment and evaluates how it compares to Portland cement. The purpose of this research is to discern how slag will be applicable in the future of construction and find what place it will have in concrete mixes. Slag is a Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) that is being utilized in more and more concrete applications due to its desirable properties and low environmental impact. Slag also reduces the amount of CO2 released that is produced in manufacturing and placing concrete. In this research, compressive strength of …

Sustainability In Commercial Office Buildings, Jack Cullen

Construction Management

Sustainability in the construction of commercial structures has been expanding through the recent years, largely in part due to the increasing ambitions to maintain a green and healthy planet. Regulations for including sustainable features in new or renovated commercial buildings have been growing throughout the country. In fact, many prospective buyers and lessees are even adding sustainable features to the list of what they look for in a potential place to buy or rent. This report will explore whether or not a building’s sustainable aspects appeal to buyers and lessees of commercial buildings, and if these sustainable aspects contribute to …

Development Of A Topics Course For Construction Law, Julia C. Hoever

Construction Management

The Cal Poly Construction Management program is designed to prepare students heading into the construction industry for daily management tasks. With construction comes many legal aspects integrated into a project’s operations. Though the curriculum includes a contract law course, a gap exists with a minimal number of classes that address the array of legal matters the construction industry must be versed in. Working with faculty member, Thomas Kommer, J.D., there is a need for a course that expands on these varying legal topics. In order to determine the specific topics that would impactfully benefit and educate Cal Poly Construction Management …

Summer Construction Bootcamp Building Activities, Ashley Leeann Isla

Construction Management

This paper outlines the trade-specific building activities that will take place at Cal Poly’s Summer Construction Bootcamp in Summer, 2022. The four construction trades that will be highlighted at the camp are concrete, carpentry, sheet metal, and plumbing. During each day, campers will build a small project that aligns with each highlighted construction trade. During the concrete day, campers will create stepping stones and perform a cylinder break test; during carpentry, campers will compete in a wall framing exercise; for sheet metal, campers will construct sheet metal roses; and for plumbing, they will make copper pipe “CPs.” This paper describes …

Analysis Of Self-Consolidating Concrete In Architectural Shear Wall Applications: Case Study, Peter Finocchio

Construction Management

Architectural concrete surfaces have always been a point of focus for concrete contractors, architects, and owners, especially when consolidation poses risks due to a high density of reinforcement. Contractors have begun using self-consolidating concrete (SCC) in exposed vertical applications to combat the risk of poor consolidation. This paper investigates the characteristics of SCC and evaluates a case study of a recent project that was completed on the Central Coast of California. The study examines the cost variance between using SCC mix and a standard mix in architectural shear walls. The analysis is done by evaluating a multi-story Type 1A structure …

Reimagining The Construction Vest Through The Facilitation Of A Hackathon, Cole Bernabei

Construction Management

This paper outlines the organizational process prior to hosting a Hackathon event in the upcoming year. When the event happens, it will be held in the Simpson Strong-Tie Building on California Polytechnic State University’s Campus. Data from a previous study shows that many individuals feel the current construction vest is flawed; the fit as currently designed is unfit for women. To resolve this, this paper will identify how a Hackathon can help produce a new prototype for the standard construction vest, while also highlighting the steps taken to develop a sound logistics plan and a financial breakdown for the event. …

Son Care Handicap Ramp And Fence, Brendan T. Mulholland

Construction Management

The purpose of this project was to build a fence on one side of the parking lot and a handicap entrance ramp for the front entrance of the Son Care Foundation in San Luis Obispo, California. This project aims to help limit the edge of the parking lot so that cars are not parked to far into the neighboring field and to make the front office more accessible to customers. The parking lot for The Son Care Foundation is located next to a field that is used for a multitude of tasks. With nothing to separate the two areas from …

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden Amphitheater Benches - The Design, Devon Barthmaier

Construction Management

This paper will outline the process of designing, building, and installing ten concrete benches at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens with an emphasis on the design phase. The San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens is home to an amphitheater that is used for event spaces. The goal of the project was to create a design to seat approximately forty people facing the stage. The project group consisted of six students broken into two teams, a pre-construction team and a construction team. The preconstruction team focused on designing the benches and procuring the materials while the construction team focused on the …

Campus Improvement Cm460 Manual To Improve Project Based Success, John C. Palmer

Construction Management

This Senior project research will critically assess the process for campus improvement on the Cal Poly Campus. The purpose of this research is providing a final deliverable that is a usable document for future students with the intention of creating a campus improvement project. The project includes the necessary resources such as campus facility contacts, permitting process explanation, the documentation process for preconstruction, funding opportunities and the expected delays to create a realistic plan. The document is created as a manual for Construction Management undergraduates in hopes of encouraging future students to create a project-based campus-improvement plan that is more …

The Benefits Of Utilizing Qr Codes On Construction Jobsites To Conduct Punch, Jack Richard Stryker

Construction Management

The punch process of construction is an important task that a construction project team is faced with before a project reaches final completion. A punch list documents and tracks items that need to be corrected, repaired, or are incomplete. If not closely managed, open punch items can drag out the completion of a project, and is often seen as a tedious task for project engineers. The industry has not seen much change as to how this process is conducted until recent advancements in construction software. This paper will take a deeper look into the benefits seen from utilizing Procore’s location-based …

Exploring The Relationships Between Gpa, Gender, Internship Participation, And Familial Influence In Salary And Salary Growth Of Construction Management Alumni, Kyra Leigh Glaus

Construction Management

College students seek to make themselves desirable to employers upon graduation, and employers use subjective and objective information to determine the best applicants. This study aims to survey the factors of college GPA, gender, internship experience, and familial influence and independently explore their relationship to career success as measured by starting salary and salary growth. A convenience sample was collected from construction management graduates from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The data for this sample found higher starting salaries for respondents who reported having higher GPAs, being female, having completed more internships, and who had an immediate family …

Attractive Features For San Luis Obispo's Collegiate Rental Market, Ava Bednarek

Construction Management

The purpose of this study is to analyze what college students would like to see in their rental units and would potentially pay more for if they had the option. It attempts to identify key features that would make valuable investments for rental unit owners. Data collection consisted of an anonymous online survey. Student respondents in the construction management major at California Polytechnic State University were asked questions regarding their current rental housing unit conditions and monthly rental costs. In addition, respondents were asked to further analyze the importance of a set list of features that could be added to …

Modular Interior Partitions In Commercial Housing: A Case Study, Adam David Meleo

Construction Management

The ability to modify an interior space with ease and reasonable cost is beneficial to designers, owners, and end-users. Modular interiors are not a new concept. Modular interior partitions can come in the form of Japanese Shoji screens, as well as folding walls that would be found in a convention center. While not new in concept, the market for products that allow partitioning an interior space with ease appears to be growing with the introduction of innovative products and solutions. This paper will focus on two student housing projects in San Luis Obispo, California, with regards to their design and …

Caed Support Shop Concrete Slab, Nathan Horst, Steven Zheng

Construction Management

This senior project paper will explore the history, background, process, and challenges encountered while constructing a dream project for the Cal Poly CAED Support Shop during the Summer of 2021. From the initial site survey, through the design and permitting process and the physical construction, this project truly encapsulated the “learn-by-doing” philosophy. The project was successful in constructing a final product that enables ADA wheelchair access, creates more useable project work area, as well as addresses drainage issues and provides underground electrical conduits for future electrical upgrades.

Development Of A Conceptual Design, Estimate, & Schedule For Cal Poly Track & Field Hurdle Shed, Jonathan Chagnon

Construction Management

This paper details the processes completed to produce the conceptual design, estimate, and schedule for a track and field hurdle shed at the Cal Poly Track facility. The main objective for this project was to create a conceptual idea for the track team that would make use of the current open space at the facility and create more storage space for current and future equipment obtained by the program. By completing this project, the track team would be able to receive a design that would allow them to push the concept forward as possible, an estimate that would give the …

Hybrid: The Future Of Construction Meetings In The Digital Age, Nicholas G. Orozco

Construction Management

Over the last few years, many construction companies have had to upheave traditional methods of construction meetings to adapt to rapidly changing COVID-19 safety and regulation protocols. For many, this has meant taking common in-person meetings (OAC, pre-construction, and design) and shifting them virtual. As companies continue to move forward in a post-pandemic climate, the question of whether they will continue with virtual meetings or revert to in-person meetings still lingers in the air. To get a better read on the future of construction meetings post-pandemic, a survey was sent to determine what most people prefer. A total of 21 …

Protecting The Caed Shop Equipment Yard, Chloe K. Stevens

Construction Management

Anytime a construction project is considered, there is a lengthy process that happens before breaking ground. It is important to consider the environment around the project, the intended purpose and use of the space, and the materials, time, and budget needed to develop it. If you do not take these things into consideration correctly, it will negatively impact the functionality and the efficiency of both the use and the construction process. This project consists of creating a pre-construction plan for building out a weather protective and space efficient enclosure at the College of Architectural and Environmental Design Shop Yard. The …

A Design Build Company’S Pain Points For Field Staff Working Outside Of A Company’S Home Area, Mason Barber

Construction Management

Design-Build is the project-delivery system of the future but is not without pain points. The Design-Build system is an efficient form of project delivery that has a strong focus on relationships and can begin the construction phase while the design phase is still active. This study aims to identify and analyze the additional challenges or pain points that arise when Design-Build construction is taking place in an unfamiliar location and distant from the company office. The pain points are identified with field staff feedback through the form of survey responses. This study uses The Neenan Company as an example because …

Analyzing The Gender Gap In Field Positions On Commercial Construction Projects, Adriana L. Frazier

Construction Management

The percentage of women working in the construction industry is on the rise. However, most women working in the construction industry often fill administrative roles, office positions, and project management roles rather than field positions such as tradeswomen, foremen, or superintendents. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2020, women constitute 10.9 percent of the entire construction industry. Specifically, 86.7 percent of those women are in office positions with only 3.5 percent of women in trade positions. Those numbers signify that the construction industry is not benefitting from women in field positions. That is due to …

The Causes Of Electrical Labor Shortages Within Central California, Madeline S. Brogno

Construction Management

Labor shortages within various trades in the construction industry have become a prominent issue throughout the world for decades. The negative effects due to lack of manpower affect construction personnel ranging from general contractors to manufacturers who are finding themselves struggling as many subcontractors are having to turn down work, which in turn affects general contractors timelines in projects- extending durations, and increasing costs. There has been general research done that has provided some insight, suggesting the root cause be attributed to the baby-boomer generation retiring, or a general lack of interest in the industry. This research paper on labor …

Feasibility Study: Demolition Of Cal Poly’S “Powerhouse”, Evan W. Tookey

Construction Management

The “Powerhouse” is currently an abandoned building located next to the Construction Innovations Center on the campus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The building was constructed in 1908 and is currently the oldest standing building located on campus. Students at Cal Poly have always been aware of the building, as it takes up a significant portion of campus and is located in an area that receives a lot of foot traffic. Unfortunately, many Cal Poly students and faculty are uninformed as to the building’s history since it has been boarded-up and abandoned since 1990. This paper examines the Powerhouse …