[74-79] In this [materials] class, we have a project where we are going to analyze failures. We were told to pick an object, determine why the object broke, and what can we do about it. So, my group decided to analyze a cleat, like a soccer shoe, so it cracked on the bottom, so right now we’re working on why it happened, why there’s so much stress there, and what can we do to reduce the stress concentration at that specific spot.
[81-86; 88-92; 95-102] We’re building a CAD model of it to determine the material. First, we contacted the company, but they didn’t want to tell us so then, we need to figure it out for ourselves. By burning the materials, it can say like oh it did not get a lot of smoke from it, those kinds of properties. So, then we can determine what kind of plastic it was.
In addition to the CAD model, we have come up with a description that informs the user how many steps you have to take during a practice and how much you can use the cleat. Also, we determined the material. So, basically where we’re left to do is to come up with a solution for the problem, what can we do for the cleat to not break. Working with my teammates has been good. We have been working a lot independently. So, we started off by deciding from the beginning what everyone was responsible for, and then we made the time plan, so for this day this person is going to finish this task. So then, everyone got a couple tasks, and you had days when it’s supposed to be due. So far, everyone has done what they’re supposed to do. It’s the one person doing a lot more than everyone else. I think he’s really interested in this class, and a really good student, so he’s taking more even though we know he’s not supposed to do it.