The Contraption

So we've received the plexi glass and we have pulleys to use (thanks to Mr. Hill). I'm getting the plywood, springs, and bars over the weekend at Home Depot.
We only need the adhesive.
So we were hoping that UMass could possible send us some PDMS so we could start out with that when we begin testing, which I hope will be soon.
Thanks

-Nasim

FOR WAB LAB

Hey guys,

If you could all check out what type of Bromelain you want to buy that would be awesome. I have left some (one) type on the table. If you could do that I can start testing next week. Getting chicken breast will be easy. Also write down what size sample you want to use, etc. I will be up to WAB when I get out of practice. Our practices are short, so if you guys are still here i'll run up!
Thanks guys!

Anthony_

Progress

Well, we've got the design set and the plexi-glass is ordered and on its way. Hopefully that'll arrive soon so that we'll be able to build it.
The new design (which I haven't posted on the blog), involved an upward pull using a pulley system. It'll be easier to picture once I have an image on the blog.
Once the system is built, we'll start testing. But for now, just waiting for the glass. I'll be providing plywood, springs, and other materials, unless someone wants to help?

-Nasim

New Tab

I've added a new tab (Design). It's just an image of what the experimental design will be. As I said in my earlier post, located below, the group needs to stay after to order materials and eventually put it together. I can't stay after for more than 10 minutes until November 17th. But, just for those of you who don't know what we're going to be doing, the design is shown on the tab named DESIGN. J

-Nasim

Updates: Science Fair and Progress

Science Fair:
About a week ago, the Adhesion Legion decided on members who are going to attend the science fair: Nasim, Lisa, and Artur. Other than that, I've been working on the research plan and it is finally complete! I'll need someone to look at it, but it's basically done. So, success!

Progress:
Over the past week, working on the research plan for the science fair has helped me understand what we are exactly going to do! On the last friday that we visited UMass, the group decided to work with normal force. The experimental design involves compliance, which we all know means the stretchiness of an object. There are four springs attached to and holding up a horizontal plexi-glass plane. The adhesive is stuck to the bottom (or top, depending on which direction we're going to pull), and is pulled down. We can either pull it by hand or use the bucket of sand idea that UMass gave us. Both ways work. The failure force is recorded for a variety of spring compliances. We determine the compliance at which the adhesive works best and relate the compliance to an actual surface. Eventually, we'll be working with a variety of adhesives.

I think all we have to do now is actually make the contraption we'll be using. Unfortunately, I have class after school until November 16, so I can't stay after for more than 10 minutes. But I hope that won't stop any of the Adherers from staying after to put it together.

-Nasim Cheraghi

Need a Meeting

Adhesion, we definitely need to meet this week BEFORE Friday, a quick little meeting. The science fair group needs to be decided by drawing out of a hat after school on Wednesday. The names of those of you who show up will be put in the hat and two names will be drawn. There are 7 people in our group, including me. So 2 out of 6 will be chosen tomorrow. Please show up if you're interested.
Also, I've been working on the Science Fair's research plan, but it's not that easy to do this all by myself. I definitely need a second pair of eyes checking what I write down for the plan.
So please, if you can, try thinking about several things:
1. Question/Problem being addressed
2. Hypothesis
3. Detailed Procedure/ Experimental Design
4. Bibliography
Even if you don't end up being chosen for the science fair, please continue to contribute to the group. We need to work together as a group in order to get things finished.

Thanks, and hope to see you after school Wednesday,
-Nasim

New Plan

So, the group has been thinking of possible plans of action. We've gone through the vertical idea, as in a gecko walking up a tree. However, UMass is doing that. We found it difficult to work with the supplies and money we had to carry out an experiment like that which UMass is doing. Also, the purpose of the experimentation wasn't clear. So we want to attempt a new idea: hanging from a ceiling.

The group didn't want to continue the idea from UMass (walking vertically upward) because we all believe that the WAB group was created to test our creative thinking. We want to design an experiment involving an adhesive pad stuck to a horizontal plane (like a ceiling), pulling down, and searching for the concentration of a specific adhesive that sticks best from a ceiling. Finding this concentration and knowing how much force the adhesive can handle can lead us to determining what objects this specific adhesive at these concentrations can hold up from a ceiling. Ultimately, the goal is to find a good adhesive. We'll work with one adhesive at first and possibly branch off to other types of adhesives.

The new idea definitely involves more concepts. We're not sure what types of forces are involved but that will be what I (Nasim) will be working on during my independent study. If the people from UMass have any thoughts on what we think we want to do, please say something. The plan we have is a bit different from what we started with and we're hoping that it still has a interesting purpose.

Also, (sorry about writing so much), we were wondering a bit about plate buckling and the idea of wrinkling. I spent the first 2 weeks of school reading and understanding the packets on wrinkling, and right now I don't really understand what that topic had to do with adhesion. I'll look over it again, but an explanation/clarification would be nice.

----any questions on what we're planning on doing, please ask.

-Nasim Cheraghi

IM IN FINALLY!

Hey guys I'm in! Let me know if i can be of any assistance even though I am from cavitation nation!
Also, I am your Plexi-glass guy! (if you need it)

~Anthony

Meeting

The science fair is coming up! Adhesion Legion, we really need to meet up this week. Mrs. Dickson won't be present on friday, but we can find another room to work in. So far, I've gotten the idea of 'compliance', and everything that comes with it, down. I just need to share with all of the Legion members what they mean and how they relate to our project.
I can't stay after on thursday, I have to go to Newcomer's Club. Actually, I'll try to make it.
So how about Thursday and Friday? I'll inform everyone on facebook as well.
Hope to see you guys!
-Nasim

Great job!

This looks great....it is a wonderful way to communicate. Are we meeting more than once this week?
Mrs. D.

Things are looking good

Saw the notes on compliance and such.  Great.  Let us know if you have questions or ideas to bounce off us.  I'm loving reading the posts!

I'm in

This is looking great!~ Just a few notes on compliance after reading your post---make sure that you realize that two different materials can have the same compliance under certain conditions.  First, compliance is a product of both materials properties and geometry.  So, two materials that have different materials properties could have the same compliance if their geometries are different.  Second, the materials properties that are most closely related to compliance for an isotropic material are the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio.  These properties are not necessarily unique to a given material.  In other words, two materials of different compositions may have the same elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio.

I'm in

Hey I'm in, even though I'm a cavitator ;)

In I am

New Members

Hey WAB,

I'm still getting used to using the blog, so I think I correctly invited the WABbers and people from UMass. But just to be certain, please post an "okay" or "I'm in" (or some form of post confirming that you are now a member) on the page. If you don't know how, look at the top right corner of the page and click "New Post". It took me a while to find it the first time.

Plus, if you notice something wrong with the page, please tell me. Especially with the information that I provided in the tabs. Hopefully I'm on the right track.

-Nasim C.

Meeting

Adhesion Legion (new name?),

We really need to meet up this week on a day other than Friday. The group needs to confirm an experimental design and I want to explain the project to those of you who don't understand it fully, or even at all. It's a new project, so we need to be on top of things. Cavitation Nation is working on its second year and they have their experiment set. Please read the packets that Mrs. Dickson provided for you. They may be a bit difficult to read through primarily, but I'll try my best to answer any questions you have when we meet up. If you don't have the packets, I suggest you visit Mrs. Dickson's classroom sometime this week and grab a couple. It is vital that we all participate. I (Nasim), can't do this by myself. Seniors, set an example for the Juniors and possible Sophomores. We want them to continue the project on to next year.

I don't want to sound like I'm bossy, but if you want to do well at the Science Fair this year, you're going to have to work hard and contribute.

I'm thinking Thursday and Friday? Sound good? If you can come, please bring suggestions and ideas! They are definitely welcome.

This project is going to be one of the coolest WAB has ever had, so let's take advantage of its coolness and make it even more awesome!

-Nasim C.

Stanford University's StickyBot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5lMJtQOKSY&feature=player_embedded

Interesting design using gecko adhesion and robotics. It looks like the material on the robot's feet and the material we saw at UMass are the same. Thanks Naveed for sharing.