It's been a very sporadic term between steady work and insanely busy with Troitsky, GNCTR, dancing, and seeing people.
Both the MTO bridge and the subway soil-structure interaction models have been going well. Though it seemed like my OpenSees model for the MTO bridge was completed, it seems like I needed to make the columns (a point of interest) a nonlinear fiber section where I specified the geometry and rebar layout. Though the return periods for the first six eigenvalues seem reasonable around 3 seconds, the current model does not converge. It seems the nonlinear elements are quite difficult to work with in terms of the dynamic analysis, connection to linear elements, and end connections. It's an interesting problem, though it seems like it would be much easier than it is since it's just a silly FE model. Oh well, I'm getting some guidance to help it be fully functional because it's needed for a thesis paper.
As for concrete toboggan, last week on Wednesday, I picked up the cement and fly ash from Woodstock and St. Marys with terry in the civil truck. Kristen's dad was so nice as to pick up aggregate, admixtures, sand, and slag. The next day I started the first mix with Richard, but due to misreading the components, I put normal cement rather than the high early cement that I picked up the day before. So the next morning, I did both the mixes (one from Misha and one from Kristen). The first got really soupy and separated (and really messy to cast into cylinders). The second was so weird; it was really sticky with so little sand and a bunch of cementitious material, and it actually formed a skin. having done the 7-day tests were generally uninteresting but the second mix on the second day looks very promising. Still have to do the 14 day test on my own since no one else from the design team is in town and available 9-5 for the test. A bit stressful but manageable.
Troitsky has had awesome progress. I drafted up a model on Inventor so that each piece is separate which will make the manufacturing process really easy once we get back together in January. Since we found out that the blocks of popsicle sticks are machineable, we just need to find the right machines to get the intricate shapes. What is also helpful is that we took the density of the popsicle blocks so that the weight of the bridge could be estimated. We have something under 6 kg which means we're in the clear. Griff has done some calculations on the deck, so it seems like we're good there too. We got funding from the Sir Sandford Flemming foundation for travelling student teams, which means that our entire trip and materials is paid for (and feels awesome).
Christmastime is coming, I'm excited though I don't have any real plans yet. Had there been more snow I would have really liked to go snowboarding, there's still the rest of the winter. The Christmas shopping has been minimal, mainly since I don't agree to buying for the sake of getting something, but keeping it for a more useful time. Personally, there's not much that I want either, perhaps a pair of shoes that aren't as perforated as a pair of sandals, but I can't decide on which ones. I just want time with my friends and family, especially before I get too busy this upcoming term to appreciate them. :)
