Acanthasia

2020

Acanthasia

Coral reefs, known as the rainforests of the sea, are home to 25% of earth’s marine species, provide food to over 500 million people in 100 different countries across the world, and have a global economic value of $375 billion per year. Due to rising sea temperatures and increasing carbon dioxide levels in the water, 25% of the world’s coral reefs have been damaged beyond repair. A further 50% of the remaining coral formations are expected to be destroyed by 2030, and nearly every single coral reef in the world will be in danger by 2050. With the hope of motivating engineers to save coral reefs while some are still alive, UFCC aims to highlight the extent of coral destruction and the natural beauty of living coral reefs. To sustain Earth’s coral reefs, scientists rely on coral nurseries to help replenish species and restore reefs. Located 9,082 miles away from the University of Florida, researchers in the Philippines are uniquely utilizing concrete toward this end. Their project, named Acanthasia, consists of a pre-cast concrete substrate designed to shelter growing corals and allow light to reach their surface. The designers of Acanthasia found concrete to be the ideal building material as it is not only strong enough to provide a robust framework capable of resisting ocean conditions, but also conducive to coral growth due to its low acidity and presence of calcium-bicarbonate. Just as concrete has a vital role in the development of infrastructure for humans, it is now essential for restoring and creating coral formations.

The UFCC 2020 canoe, Acanthasia, named after the coral substrate, is the program’s response to the CNCCC’s objectives of the RFP by bringing awareness to innovative and diverse concrete applications that can positively impact the entire world. UFCC aimed to foster the spirit of information sharing and teamwork, inspired by the founding principles of the ASCE. Just as the substrate Acanthasia has received awards and praise for addressing ecological issues while considering economic feasibility, social benefits, and transferability to new sites, UFCC hope to utilize these three considerations to produce the best possible response to the RFP.

Take a closer look:

Innovations

The first team to introduce the cork form and carbon fiber in the history of UFCC!

Stats

Length: 21 ft, Width: 2.1 ft, Depth: 1.2 ft , Thickness: 3/8 in, Weight: 160 lbs, 2000 psi (7-Day Strength)

Competition

This team was not able to compete due to COVID, but accomplished the year's many deliverables nonetheless!

Legacy

This team exemplified UFCC eagerness to push the envelop of innovation as they sought out many new materials and design methodologies that continue to be used today!

Meet the Team!

Project Managers: Sedona Iodice and Zack Sumislaski

Captains: Brian Roche, Kelly Carpenter, Susanna van de Graaf, Sara Dincher, Joachim Dagting, Shumail Zaidi, Mauricio Medina, Maria Parra, Maddie Murphree, Jennifer Underhill, Lourdes Lopez, Suzanna Barna, David Orense, Maitland Melnyk, Ryan Telemko

Volunteers: Joe Atwater, David Kuehn, Zaid Aldwikat, Hannah Schneeberger, Michael Hunter, Collin Cole, David Orense, Erik Huang, Lamija Repesa, Ryan Telemko, Emma Dietrich, Chris Menninger, Emily Saidi, Janie Ross, Nathan O'Donnell, Reo Kunori, Maitland Melnyk, Scott Fosser, Katiushika Rich, Anna Chazal, Zach Mckinley, Spencer Chancey, Oliver Aguirre, Nathan Comption, Valentina Ayala, Jaylen Reinhart