Saturday, February 20, 2010

Snow Bridge

Our initial objection was to create this massive bridge sculpture composed out of snow, or the products of snow. It had to have a three foot open aired span at the bottom, and it had to be three feet tall. We chose our groups, and I was with Ben, Beth, Rebecca, Kate and Myself. As a group, we started to brainstorm the potential ways we could make this sculpture fit the measurement requirements, as well as being able to hold one hundred pounds. We thought, that the best possible way to accomplish this task, was by using a byproduct of snow, ice. We knew that the water would definitely freeze in Alfred, but we just needed a certain method for freezing the ice in order to make it sturdy enough to hold up the weight, and eventually make a bridge. Our thoughts for making this was to create molds using Masonite. We decided that using the arch planning, we could hold large blocks of ice, knowing that the arch was the strongest way to support weight. In our proposal, we decided on five large molds of ice that would be shaped into a circular archway, that would be carved as a floral theme. After some calculations, we discovered that if we created only five blocks of ice, they would each be well over three hundred pounds. So, we decided that seven blocks would be a better method, and might be easier to manage. On Sunday, we started construction of the Masonite blocks that would eventually be our molds. We knew that if we used Masonite, that we had to preserve it, because the water would destroy and warp the molds. So, we thought that petroleum would be the cheapest, and easiest solution to apply to the Masonite to preserve it. We spent the entire day planning, and working in the wood shop to create these unique molds. At first, we were going to use hot glue to hold the pieces together, however, we came across a much more efficient process, duct tape. We taped the edges and then sealed the corners with hot glue. After we did this, we took to the petroleum jelly on the inside walls of the Masonite. Then we began the manual labor. Taking a mixture of the fresh, light snow, and buckets from the nearby stream, we started to make a slushy mixture in the hopes that it would freeze overnight. Much to our surprise, we found that the next morning, the blocks were still in a similar state in which we left them in. We dumped the water out, and had to resort to a new plan. We thought that by adding water to densely packed snow, you could probably get the same effect as if you you were to use ice. Then, using a new process, we took lots of snow, and gradually added water to it, to make blocks. We determined that our original plan was a good and sturdy structure, so we stuck to that design. Laying out our bricks, mid-way we found out that it would simply not be possible to make an archway. So we started building on either side, and we would lay a piece of ice across the top. Again, we went to the wood shop to make another mold, this time, one that would be thin enough to freeze, but thick enough to withstand the hundred pound weight limit. We filled the mold with another slushy mixture, this time with more water, and then we called it a day. Tuesday morning, we found yet again that our mold had not frozen. In frustration, we went back to the drawing board. We decided that we would have to improvise our bridge. We kept adding blocks to either side in hopes that eventually the two would meet. However, we ran into more technical difficulties when we found out that our bridge might not actually withstand its own weight. We started to shift the blocks in a diagonal, and make a keystone for the arch. Our end product wasn't at all what we had pictured it to look like. It wasn't nearly as pristine as we had hoped for, yet through all of our planning, and attempts, and struggles with freezing temperatures, in the end we were content. The real test came, when we were to put weight on top of our tall bridge. We definitely did not know the outcome of our work. We decided to risk Ben's life, and have him walk across the top. He actually successfully made it across the top! Even though our planning was not as we expected, we still made the height and weight requirements for the assignment.

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