Testing Procedures

Introduction
The final solution for the support system and wear deck must be able to withstand the rough weather it is susceptible to in the beach environment.  The support system but be durable and as strong as possible and able to house any accompanying super structures.  The support structure must support the weight of the sub deck, wear deck, traffic of beachgoers, and weight of the super structures.

Testing Type: Exploratory
Testing Stage: Preliminary
State of Stage: Research
Condition of Testing Stage: Individual research
Tools and Equipment required: Internet, computer, notepad, pictures from Sandy
Testing Procedures:
1) Look at damage caused by Sandy
2) Survey damage to boardwalk
3) Look for largest failures in structure
4) Note in notepad

Testing Type: Exploratory
Testing Stage: Secondary
State of Stage: Research
Condition of Testing Stage: Field research
Tools and Equipment required: Notepad/pencil and camera
Testing Procedures: 
1) Determine areas to survey
2) Go to areas
3) Take note of all new structures that are present
4) Compare to past structures
5) Note any differences in structures

Testing Type: Exploratory
Testing Stage: Tertiary
State of Stage: Brainstorming
Condition of Testing Stage: Individual
Tools and Equipment required: All past research, notepad
Testing Procedures: 
1) Create a design web
2) Utilize this to create general ideas that could be used for

Testing Type: Exploratory
Testing Stage: Quaternary
State of Stage: Pre-design/Alternate solutions
Condition of Testing Stage: Conceptual
Tools and Equipment required: Illustrations/sketches created from brainstorming
Testing Procedures: 
1) Review research and brainstorming materials
2) Draft alternate solutions

Testing Type: Assessment
Testing Stage: Quinary
State of Stage: Pre-design
Condition of Testing Stage: Email with mentor/Blog post
Tools and Equipment required: Blog/ internet acress
Testing Procedures:
1) Publish on blog, email to mentor
2) Allow them to assess
3) Take note of aspects concerning functionality, usability, aesthetics

Testing Type: Comparision
Testing Stage: Senary
State of Stage: Alternate solutions
Condition of Testing Stage: Conceptual/Individual
Tools and Equipment required: Design matrix
Testing Procedures: 
1) Create a controlled convergence
2) Assign one concept to be datum
3) Grade all concepts versus the datum
4) Determine highest scoring solution

Testing Type: Assessment
Testing Stage: Septenary
State of Stage: Pre-design
Condition of Testing Stage: Email with mentor/Blog post
Tools and Equipment required: Blog/ internet acress
Testing Procedures:
1) Publish developmental work on blog, email to mentor
2) Allow them to assess
3) Take note of aspects concerning functionality, usability, aesthetics

Testing Type: Assessment
Testing Stage: Octonary
State of Stage: Predevelopment
Condition of Testing Stage: Meeting with official of civil engineering
Tools and Equipment required: Developed work
Testing Procedures:
1) Meet with official
2) Present developmental work
3) Ask official to comment
4) Take corrections into consideration

Repeat as many times as necessary

Testing Type: Validation
Testing Stage: Nonary
State of Stage: Preconstruction
Condition of Testing Stage: Meeting with teacher
Tools and Equipment required: All of developmental work
Testing Procedures:
1) Look over all designs with teacher
2) After no corrections need to be made, validate

SAMPLE SURVEY

Does the design conform to all the specifications?
Will it support the weight of all superstructures/traffic?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Does the design allow for ample surface area for users?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Does this design fit the intended mood?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Will the design endure harsh weather?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Does the design accomplish the individual design brief?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Does this design follow all codes set forth by the IBC?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Is the design feasible?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Do the support structures need additional fasteners?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Is the layout of the boardwalk consistent?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Will the design need additional support or strength?
_Yes
_Partial
_Needs improvement
_No

Rationale Report

Rationale Report 

Introduction

The nature of the final design must exemplify functionality, sustainability, endurance, and accessibility as well as maintaining aesthetic appeal.  The beachside walkway must also adhere to the specifications and limits set forth at the start of this project.  To satisfy these qualities, I designed five alternate solutions of walkways and support systems.  The first is a support system consisting of concrete supports with a plastic composite decking which I will refer to as “Concrete and plastic” for simplicity.  The second is a tall wooden piling support system with wooden planking which will be called “Wooden system”.  The third is a concrete support system with a concrete surface, which will be referred to as “Concrete block”.  The fourth design is a shorter wooden piling system with a concrete surface called “Short wooden pilings”.  The fifth alternate solution consists of pavers stones that are installed onto an even surface no higher than two feet off of the ground that will be referred to as “pavers”.  

Concrete and plastic

My first design, “Concrete and plastic” is an elevated design supported by concrete pilings.  These pilings go 15 feet underground and are  shaped as pictured below:     

                                           

The dimensions of the pilings are 18 feet wide by 1.5 feet deep. 

 The pros of this support system are as follows:

-Fireproof

-No maintainence required

No rotting or warping

-Very strong

-Texture/color options

-The cons of this support system are as follows:

-Non-traditional look/less aesthetically pleasing 

-Longer time to construct

The deck upon the pilings are created with a plastic composite material. This material is created from recycled plastic materials, benefitting the sustainability quality needed in this project.  The planks are a grey color and have a grained surface pattern to mock wood.  The planks are 1.25'' x 5.5'' and have a square edge.  The planks can be seen pictured below:

The pros of this decking are as follows:

-Very durable

-Eco-Friendly

-Does not splinter

-Does not rot or warp

-Less maintenance

The cons of this decking are as follows:

-Non traditional boardwalk feel

-Will take longer to decompose if washed away

Wooden system

This design consists of an elevated walkway of Ipe wood on a wooden piling support system.  The support system is wooden trunks that are piled 15 feet into the ground and are exposed an additional 10 feet above sea level.  The support system diagram can be seen pictured below…

                                      

The pros of this support system are as follows:

-Traditional boardwalk feel

-Able to be elevated

-Cost effective

The cons of this support system are:

-Larger quantity of materials needed

-Safety hazard, people may fall off

The decking will be Ipe wood planks.  These plank will be of standard size, about 1.25”x5.5”x18’.  

The pros of this decking are:

-Traditional boardwalk feel

-Natural warmth

-Cost effective

-Biodegradable if washed away to sea

The cons of this decking are:

-Tendency to warp

-Tendency to rot

-Requires high maintenance

-Splinters

Concrete block

This design consists of a support system of large concrete block supports.  The concrete block design can be pictured below…

                                      

The pros of this support system are as follows:

-Strong, can support alot of weight

-Will not weather

-Does not warp

-Does not splinter

-Does not rot

-Requires little maintenance

The cons of this support system are as follows:

-Non traditional “beachy” feel

-Not aesthetically pleasing

This design consists of a concrete treads for the walkway surface.  These treads are concrete cast made planks.  

The pros of this walkway are:

-Durable

-Different color variations

-Different texture variations

-Does not warp

-Does not weather

-Does not rot

-Low maintenance

-Non-slip surface

-Low cost

-Heavy treads that will not be moved by storm surge

The cons of this walkway are:

-Non traditional boardwalk feel

Short wooden pilings

This design consists of wooden pilings yet keeps the boardwalk low to the ground.  The wooden pilings would lift the boardwalk to 2 feet above sea level.  These shorter pilings are of timber that are piled into the ground 15 feet.  The details can be seen pictured below…

                                      

The pros of this support system are:

-Traditional boardwalk feel

-Would allow storm surge to go over the walkway

The cons of this support system are:

-Warping

-Rotting

-Weathering

-Splintering

-Requires maintenance

The surface of the walkway of this design is concrete treads similar to those in the “Concrete block” design.  

The pros of this walkway are:

-Durable

-Different color variations

-Different texture variations

-Does not warp

-Does not weather

-Does not rot

-Low maintenance

-Non-slip surface

-Low cost

-Heavy treads that will not be moved by storm surge

The cons of this walkway are:

-Non traditional boardwalk feel

Pavers 

The fifth and final alternate solution is a simple support system of wooden planks to even the surface for pavers stones.  The pavers serve as the walkway and main component of the design. 

                                      

The pros of the walkway:

-Even with sea level to allow surge from storm to pass over boardwalk

-Durable

-Low maintenance

The cons of this structure

-Non traditional beach feel

Support system Controlled Convergence

Criteria	Wooden pilings	Concrete supports	Short wood pilings	Concrete block supports	Pavers
Strength (x2)	DATUM	+	S	+	-
Endurance (x2)		+	S	+	+
Elevation		S	-	S	-
Aesthetic appeal		-	S	-	S
Ease of construction		-	S	-	-
Amount of materials used		S	S	-	S
Cost		-	S	-	-
∑+		4	0	4	3
∑-		3	1	3	5
Net Score	0	1	-1	1	-2
Rank	2	1	3	1	4
Continue or combine?	No	Continue	No	No	No

Wear-deck Controlled Convergence 

Criteria	Wooden planks	Concrete treads	Plastic composite	Pavers
Strength	DATUM	+	+	+
Endurance		+	+	+
Environmentally friendly		-	S	-
Aesthetic appeal		-	S	S
Cost		-	S	-
∑+		2	2	2
∑-		3	0	2
Net Score	0	-1	2	0
Rank	2	3	1	2
Continue or combine?	No	No	Yes	No

Alternate Solutions

                                 

Alternate solution 1: "Plastic and concrete". Concrete "T" shaped supports with plastic composite decking and sub-deck. Reinforced concrete dune system along the stretch of the boardwalk.

                                   

Alternate solution 2: "Wooden system". This system consists if wooden pickings driven into the ground 15 feet. The sub-deck and decking are both wood, the decking is Ipe. 

                                         

Alternate solution 3: "Concrete blocks". This design consists of a concrete support system and concrete treading as a deck. Sub deck is not needed and the decking is able to support itself and remain attached through a tongue and groove system.

                                          

Alternate solution 4: "Short wooden system". This design had a support system of wooden pilings that sit about 2 feet above sea level. They are driven 15 below the surface. The decking if this design is plastic composite. The design features a reinforced dune about 6feet in front of it.

                                     

Alternate solution 5: "Pavers".  In this solution, there is a sub deck of wooden supports. These supports are below sea level. The pavers are installed flush to the shore around it. The pavers feature a tessellation took to.