Shantytown Construction Redesign
Student with a sample concrete block composite.Copyright 2017 Nick Kaufman et al., Collaborative RET Program, Central State University, University of Dayton, and Wright State University
Students learn about STEM education through an engineering design challenge that focuses on improving building materials used in shantytowns. First, they consider the factors that lead to shantytown development. After researching the implications of living in shantytowns, students design, build and test cement-based concrete block composites made of discarded and/or recycled materials. The aim is to make a material that is resistant to degradation by chemicals or climate, can withstand natural disasters, and endure through human-made conditions (such as urban overcrowding or pollution). The composites must be made of materials that are inexpensive and readily available so that they are viable alternative in shantytown communities. Students assess the results both chemically and physically and then iterate their designs with the materials that proved to be strongest.
Materials engineers design and discover new solids to help solve problems. Building and iterating to solve a problem (like exploring the cement composites in this activity) are essential to the engineering design process. In this activity, students—given specific constraints—design a composite material that is cost-effective, chemically resistant, durable, and even aesthetically pleasing for shantytown residents. The composites are tested chemically and physically, and then redesigned based on results from testing. Engineers use creative problem solving to tackle a variety of issues, such as providing infrastructure expertise to communities in developing nations, who may then apply this engineering knowledge to tackle the economic and social problems of shantytowns.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe how different foundational materials affect the chemical and physical properties of a finished composite.
- Apply the engineering design process to build a composite concrete block with an optimal mixture of materials based on cost, availability, material properties and aesthetic appeal.
- Analyze and present data on block construction and further iterations that come from the engineering design process.