User:1sfoerster/enes100/fall2013/p1Igloo

Team Members
Jason Park

Chris Snyder

Edward Graves

Problem Statement

 * Construct an igloo in a spiral shape where the blocks form a smooth surface without any crack
 * Develop a method of documenting block shape and its dimensions
 * Find out how the blocks must change their shapes as they go up in the ramp.

Design(s)

 * Reverse Engineering:
 * Previous team's literation: https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Igloo/Howard_Community_College/Fall2012/p1-502-lmra
 * The previous team's work has been used as guidelines for our igloo modeling and mathematics as well
 * Tutorial/Guidelines for the Making an Igloo Model:
 * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPi81JCd8LQ
 * A manual book used: How to Build an Igloo : And Other Snow Shelters by Norbert E. Yankielun
 * This picture book visually grasped the conceptual design of our igloo model
 * Theory of Operation:
 * As long of the angles of the ramps from each layer face toward the center of the surface of the igloo, igloo can be formed.
 * If each block of a certain layer has an uniformly even length that sums into the circumference as a whole, then the layer can be formed.

Design Process: Styrofoam Igloo #1

 * When we first began to construct the very first igloo by using the Styrofoam, we only yielded into a handful of problems with such model.


 * Date Collection:
 * Diameter = 6.5 inches
 * Height of the Igloo= 4.7 inches
 * Height of each block/ its thickness = 0.75 inch


 * Architectural wise, we accounted this model's disastrous consequences.
 * Starting from the base layer, we've noticed the model's lack in its ramp to promote spiral shape.
 * We hardly managed to even design an 'igloo,' but rather, we created a cake-like model
 * There were numerous cracks around the model, as we noticed from the Rear View
 * By using hot glues, we barely managed to place the model as a whole without collapsing
 * If we were to build a life-size model of this igloo, before we even put on the second layer, it would collapse immediately


 * Conceptually, it hinged the doorway for other follow-up models which essentially modified this igloo into enhanced shape and structure
 * Concept: As the layers are formed, the 'bent' of each layer's blocks must differ in greater angle to form a dome-like shape
 * Based on this concept, we managed to form next models with equal length and thickness for each block which formed an uniformly circular shape

Design Process: Styrofoam Igloo #2

 * Based upon the concept that has been derived from our previous, not too successful Styrofoam Igloo #1, we were able to replicate its idea into the new modeling process

Construction of a Styrofoam Igloo #2:


 * Unsuccessful Outcome:
 * Externally, the model still possessed several problems
 * We, once again, created not too dome-like structure; rather, we created a tower-like, stacked model
 * Although the external surface had been smoothly polished, we were still unable to see continuous, dome-like structure of an igloo
 * Internally, the model further yielded numerous, disastrous problems
 * When we observed its hollow internal structure, the blocks were attached by the means of circular frame; not forming a spirally increasing ramp
 * We also noticed that there were too many gaps between the blocks = no cohesive attraction between the blocks to maintain their position
 * Could collapse if we attempted to build the life-size model unless we have similar materials like the intensive use of hot glues for this model
 * More addition to the list of conceptual approach:
 * There must be an increasing ramp that shapes the block into trapezoidal-like model for each layer
 * These trapezoidal blocks must be 'bent' which faces toward the center of the surface of the base layer
 * Like the external surface, internal surface, too, should look neat and smoothly connected without any dangerous gaps

Design Process: Software 3D Igloo

 * This is, once more, an unsuccessful attempt to create a model igloo.
 * Because we lacked knowledge in software programming, particularly with the GoogleSketchup8, we were unable to replicate the real model into the 3-D world.
 * Our detailed attempts are explained in the /3D_Model_Attempt/

Design Process: Clay Igloo #1

 * Due to health issues regarding the hazardous chemicals that were identified in the styrofoams, we've decided to use clay but maintain concepts used in the previous styrofoam models.
 * Its detailed construction and guidelines can be found in the Tutorials with the name How to Build a Clay Igloo (
 * We purposefully placed one stick per each layer to visually show the increasing angle of each ramp.
 * Heights were measured for each stick, creating perpendicular line with the bottommost surface
 * Through this, we were also able to calculate the angle of the 'bent' trapezoidal block
 * Mathematically, we were able to support that this igloo was possible in life-size; it had increasing angles as the ramps reached to the rooftop


 * Data Collection:
 * Radius of the igloo: 6.5 cm
 * Circumference: 40.841 cm


 * Length of the Stick (hypotenuse of the triangle):
 * First Layer (Blue): 6.5 cm
 * Second Layer (Hot Pink): 6.09 cm
 * Third Layer (Light Green): 8.0 cm
 * Fourth Layer (Red): 9.2 cm
 * Fifth Layer/Rooftop (Height of the Igloo): 11.40 cm


 * Length between the Center and perpendicular line formed (b = Base of the Triangle):
 * First Layer: 6.50 cm
 * Second Layer: 5.60 cm
 * Third Layer: 4.50 cm
 * Fourth Layer: 3.30 cm
 * Fifth Layer/Rooftop: 11.40 cm


 * Height of Each Layer's Triangle:
 * First Layer: 1.70 cm
 * Second Layer: 3.80 cm
 * Third Layer: 6.20 cm
 * Fourth Layer: 7.70 cm
 * Fifth Layer/Rooftop: 11.40 cm


 * Angle of between Triangle's Height & Length (Base of the triangle)
 * First Layer: 14.657 degrees
 * Second Layer: 32.160 degrees
 * Third Layer: 54.028 degrees
 * Fourth Layer: 66.801 degrees
 * Fifth Layer/Rooftop: 90 degrees


 * Improvements:
 * The angle and spirally increasing ramps have been considered
 * Instead of creating a rectangular prism, we've successfully created an image of igloo by using trapezoidal block
 * We finally managed to create a door
 * We've made a door out of two simple trapezoidal blocks


 * Despite all of these efforts, there were several more problems that were added to the list
 * Problem 1: Every block on the same layer had its own separate height; thus single angular measurement per layer was inadequate to describe each dimension of the block and ramp as a whole
 * Problem 2: Further measurements couldn't be processed
 * The model turned into solid-rock form and couldn't be separated without cracking the entire igloo
 * Problem 3: No detailed mathematical measurements were accomplished
 * Angle of the blocks for creating the ramp
 * Length of each block (vertical or height of the each virtual triangle formed)
 * Radius of second and beyond layers


 * Detailed mathematical procedures were explained in /How to Present Igloo Mathematically/ (This includes What To Do and What Not To Do)

Design Process: Clay Igloo #2
Construction of Clay Igloo #2
 * Combining all of the previous improvements and considering all of the problems that we've encountered, this is, in a nutshell, our best igloo, yet


 * Improvements:
 * Unlike the previous clay model, this igloo was manually calculated for each and every block
 * This is used to describe the angles, lengths, widths, and even heights for each layer and individual block
 * We managed to create tutorials for the mathematics (based on using this igloo)


 * Further Problems:...
 * It took way too long for calculating individual block manually
 * Because we had no other options available but to choose this last resort, we were driven to calculate every, individual block manually
 * We lacked knowledge on Calculus III to create 3-Dimentional Equation to describe this unusual dome-like shape
 * 2Dimentional would work only if we were dealing with stacked igloo; not with this spirally grading igloo
 * Proportionally, the entrance was too large of a size if we were to build at its life-size form

Materials Used

 * Styrofoam Igloo #1
 * Styrofoam
 * Knife/Sharp-edged cutting tool
 * Hot Glue
 * Plastic Plate/Cardboard Plate


 * Styrofoam Igloo #2
 * Styrofoam
 * Styrofoam Cutter (Used only in the Engineering Lab)
 * Metallic Holder (Used only in the Engineering Lab)


 * 3D Software Igloo
 * GoogleSketchup8


 * Clay Igloo #2
 * Brown Clay (Found in the Engineering Lab)
 * Knife
 * Small-scaled saw (Used only in the Engineering Lab)
 * Sculpturing Tool (Used only in the Engineering Lab)


 * Clay Igloo #1
 * White Clay (2 lbs)
 * Cutting Tool
 * Sculpturing Tool
 * Scrapping Tool
 * Water & Cup (For Moisture)
 * Two 2-feet long sticks
 * 7.0 by 9 cm Box (Used for producing uniformly even blocks)

Tutorial

 * How to Build a Clay Igloo (
 * /How to Present Igloo Mathematically/

Next Steps

 * Draw and print blocks for a model igloo on the 3D printer (Preferably GoogleSketchUp8 because it's free and also has flexible tools that could produce a 3D igloo)
 * Design and build life-sized igloo that is proportional to the model igloo
 * The next group should build it with ice blocks in an ideal condition to avoid melting of an igloo
 * Find an equation or several equations to mathematically present the dimensions of each block
 * We recommend next group to have math level up to Calc III; for it deals with 3-Dimentional structures and equations
 * Next groups should use our data points instead of designing and creating their own separate igloo
 * It may save them a lot of time
 * Find better ways to present the mathematics by using a software or any device
 * Avoid using manual task of calculating each and individual block unless there are no choice.
 * We wasted a lot of time by not even answering the mathematical questions (finding the shape of each block and angles of the ramp)
 * Physics should also be considered:
 * The next team should account for amount of force required to balance between blocks and between layers