Orlando, FL., — The Florida Concrete & Products Association held its 6th annual Concrete Bowling Ball Competition on Friday, March 1, 2019 at FC&PA Headquarters. The FC&PA Education Committee works in connection with the ACI National Student Competition and in cooperation with the ACI Student Activities Committee to bring national competitions to Florida and invites University students to participate.
University students from around the state of Florida and even participants from Peru entered fiber reinforced concrete bowling balls and posters detailing their design & casting process research to be judged in six various categories. The objective of the competition was to demonstrate the effect of fibers in reinforcing concrete, to gain experience in forming and fabricating a concrete fiber-reinforced element, and to encourage creativity in engineering design and analysis. These students learned with a hands-on approach how to select materials to meet weight limits, strength & toughness of concrete, how to cast a round object, and how to achieve uniform consolidation to ensure for a straight roll.
Schools competing in this year’s event included FIU, Embry Riddle, UM, UNF, and the National University of Engineering. This year, the University of Miami won the Award for Most Team Spirit and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University won the Award for Most Artistic.
Gordon McLellan, FC&PA Education Committee Chairman, commented following this year’s event: “We had a tremendous turnout this year and I want to thank the many FC&PA Staff and Education Committee members for participating in welcoming students and judging. Local ACI members were in attendance and Page One consultants joined us for lunch. 11 teams competed with Emory Riddle taking first place, with U of M second, and UNF taking third. Next year, we will send winners to the National ACI conference for further competition. Our international competitors, while not placing, enjoyed the event and plan to attend next year as well.”
