During a visualisation session, I saw this picture of concrete pavers in my mind. Lots of interlocking shapes.
Later, I did a Web search for 'interlocking pavers', and this page was one that looked interesting...
Interesting, but a bit too complicated.
I kept looking, and this pattern seemed to offer more like what I had in mind...
Edward de Bono uses the thinking process called 'PMI', which stands for
- Plusses - things going for the idea
- Minuses - things against it
- Interesting - neither plus nor minus, just neutral, or 'interesting'
A PMI applied to this process would mean:
- (+) simple shape, interlocking
- (-) all going the same way, making it likely that if one blows away, they all will,
- interesting pattern, maybe with some more development...
1. I started sketching the 'interesting' paving pattern for a start, and tried to see if they would still interlock if they went in alternate directions. They would, but left a square which would allow evaporation, and may mean the wind could lift them off the water.
2. Maybe a round shape instead of a hexagonal one. This looks promising...
3. Yes, it would work as long as the dimension 'X' was the same.
4. Now to draw the shape accurately. Using a 'mathomat' that had four quarters marked on the circle, I started drawing the shapes. I was pleased with the result.
I also sketched a profile (looking at the end, rather than from the top), and decided on a gentle curved top. I also wanted to include some way to make the covers 'hook' under the next one to stop the wind getting under them and blowing them away.
After making a pattern in clay, and forming plastic sheet over it, I then cast the pattern in plaster. I made two plaster patterns this way, so that I could form two covers at a time. Notice the way the shape is cut, leaving a flat bit underneath the next one as a 'hook'.
The covers were stuck together using masking tape on the underside. I found a toy boat and two GI Joes in my son's collection of childhood treasures, and stuck the men and some covers in position using hot melt glue.
I arranged them on a large puddle, and took this image using a digital camera.
This is the image I will present to the review panel, using a data projector. The specifications are: 600 pixels x 415 pixels, compressed (10) JPG file of 45 KB.
A sample presentation speech is given here. It is to give you an idea of what the review panel would be looking for.
Water has become a very precious resource, especially after a string of dry years. Some years ago a research team at RMIT experimented with floating covers spread out on water storage areas. They found that water normally lost by evaporation could be reduced by about 70% with the covers in place. This design project was to find a suitable shape for the covers, one that had the following features:
- lightweight
- low cost
- high ultra violet resistance
- modular and interlocking
- allow rain through
- stackable
- wind resistant
You will notice that my design meets each of these requirements. The photo shows the covers being placed on a water storage area. You will also notice that the ends of one cover, actually hold down the sides of the next cover, and tests have proved that they stay in position even in high winds. Thankyou for your time. I am happy to take any questions.
