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FRCBowlingBallCompetition REGISTRATION

RE G I S T RAT I O N AND F I NAL CO M P E T I T I O N RUL E S F O R

S P RI NG 2016 CO M I NG S O O N. FAQS

PAST WINNERS
Objectives
The objective of this competition is to demonstrate the effect of
fibers in reinforcing concrete, to gain experience in forming and
fabricating a concrete fiber-reinforced element, and to encourage
creativity in engineering design and analysis.

Competition
The Competition is divided into two separate categories: the Bowling
Ball Performance Category and the Presentation Category. The
Bowling Ball Performance Category will include five performance
tests associated with each team and their bowling ball:

The mass test;

The diameter consistency test;
The bowling test;
The final deformation load test; and
The toughness load test.
A score will be awarded to each team for each test based on the
characteristics of the bowling ball or the performance of the team
and its bowling ball. These test scores will be converted into
competition points based on the relative importance of each test.
The team rankings for the Bowling Ball Performance Category will
be based on the number of competition points earned as a result of
all the performance tests.

The Presentation Category will require each interested team to

submit a poster. Each poster will be judged and awarded a score by
a panel of judges. The team rankings for the Poster Presentation
Category will be based on the average score each poster receives
from the judges.

Teams are encouraged to enter both the Performance Category as

well as the Presentation Category. However, this is not a
requirement. An individual team may enter either category or both.
Keep in mind that the Presentation Category requires knowledge
and experience related to the research, manufacture, and
performance of a fiber-reinforced concrete bowling ball.

Prizes
Prizes will be awarded in both the Performance and Presentation
categories. First, second, and third prizes will be awarded in each
category to the teams as defined in the rules. The awardees will each
receive a certificate of recognition. Further recognition, if space
allows, will be from ACIs website and Concrete International
magazine. First- place prize money in each category is $750.00.
Second-place prize money in each category is $500.00. Third-place
prize money in each category is $250.00.

Rules - please note: these rules apply to a

previous competition
T HE CHAL L E NG E

1. To design and construct a fiber-reinforced concrete bowling ball

that achieves optimal performance for specified tests and tasks.
2. To document and present the teams work to an audience of
industry professionals.
Read more.

T HE S T UDE NT T E AM

1. Each team must have a supervising faculty advisor who will see
that the team complies with the rules of the competition. The
faculty member is permitted to advise more than one team.
2. A team is limited to five students currently enrolled in a high
school or an undergraduate college or university program.
Undergraduate students on cooperative or internship work
assignment are eligible to compete. All members of a given team
must be from the same school. A student may not be a member of
more than one team.
3. At least one individual (faculty advisor or student team member)
must be designated to represent each team and be present for
each of the bowling ball tests..
4. Each team must register using the blue registration box. Only the
first two completed advance registrations will be accepted from
one school. Additional teams will only be accepted if an earlier
entry from the same school withdraws from the competition. ACI
encourages schools to hold local competitions to select the teams
that will represent them at this international competition.
5. Each team must also submit the Official Submittal Form (link
above). This form should be sent electronically to
[email protected] by .....

M AT E RI AL S AND CURI NG

1. The bowling ball must use cementitious materials as the binder.

The cementitious materials shall be portland cement meeting
ASTM C150, blended cement meeting ASTM C595, or expansive
cement meeting ASTM C845. Supplementary cementitious
materials such as fly ash and natural pozzolan meeting ASTM
C618, silica fume meeting ASTM C1240, and slag meeting ASTM
C989 may also be used.
2. Any type of nonmetallic aggregate may be used.
3. Chemical admixtures meeting ASTM C494 or ASTM C1017 may be
used. Glues and similar binders, such as epoxies and other
polymers, are not allowed.
4. Curing shall be at atmospheric pressure. The curing temperatures
shall not exceed the boiling point of water. Use of a standard
moist-curing room is permitted.
5. The bowling ball must be constructed from a fiber-reinforced
concrete mixture. The fiber-reinforced concrete mixture design
shall include fibers with a maximum length of 60 mm and made
of steel, glass, synthetic, or natural materials as described in ACI
544.1R. The fibers may be used at any dosage rate. No other type
 of reinforcing is allowed.
6. Filling of honeycombed surfaces after casting is allowed. Fill
materials must be selected from the same materials used in the
original concrete mixture.

S P E CI M E N

1. Each team shall bring two concrete bowling balls to the

competition.
2. The bowling balls mass shall not exceed 5.5 kg.
3. The bowling balls shall be spherical (no finger holes) and
measure 200 mm 15 mm diameter.
4. The bowling balls may be solid (homogeneous) or core-filled. If
core-filled, the maximum density of the filler material shall be no
greater than 2400 kg/m3.
5. The bowling balls cannot be cast prior to ....
6. Modification of entries shall not be permitted once they are
submitted for the competition.

BO WL I NG BAL L P E RF O RM ANCE CAT E G O RY

Each test shall be handled by a group of judges appointed by ACI

Subcommittee 544-B, Education, or their assigns. Each team shall
submit two balls for Mass and Diameter Testing. Each ball must be
marked (using a permanent marker) with the same five-letter code
(generated by the team) that signifies which team the ball represents
along with a unique numeral (1 or 2) to distinguish one ball from
the other. The individual balls must also be marked with the
predicted test load (in Newtons) which the team determines is
needed to deform it by 25 mm (refer to the Final Deformation Load
Test).

The Judges will select a test ball at random from the two balls
submitted by each team. This will be the ball the team will use to
enter the Testing Phase of the competition. If a teams test ball is
disqualified during either the Mass Test or the Diameter Test, the
alternative ball can be tested for mass and diameter and the
alternative ball will be designated as the test ball. Only those
scores associated with the qualified test ball shall count toward
points in the competition.

1. Mass Test (10% of the Ball Performance Category)The judges

shall weigh the test ball to verify that it meets the mass
requirements set forth in these rules. The mass of each ball will
be determined and documented using a scale of the judges
choice. All balls will be weighed using the same scale. The actual
mass of the bowling ball in kg will be the mass test score carried
through to the evaluation phase of the competition. If the ball
weighs more than 5.5 kg, it shall be disqualified. If both balls fail
the Mass Test, the team will be disqualified from the Performance
Category of the competition.
2. Diameter Consistency Test (10% of the Ball Performance
Category)The test ball will be measured along three different
axes arbitrarily selected by the judges for adherence to the
bowling ball diameter consistency requirements set forth in these
 rules. Three specific diameter measurements will be recorded (in
millimeters) as the scores for the diameter test to be carried
through to the Evaluation Phase of the competition. If any of the
diameter measurements of the bowling ball are 15 mm greater or
less than the design standard of 200 mm, the ball shall be
disqualified. If both balls fail the Diameter Consistency Test, the
team will be disqualified from the Performance Category of the
Competition. A team may not compete in the Performance
Category unless their test ball has passed both the mass and
diameter tests.
3. Bowling Test (30% of the Ball Performance Category)The
bowling apparatus (ramp and alley) will be provided at the
competition. One and only one team member can be identified as
the Team Bowler. The Team Bowler, with no assistance from
any other members of the team, will position the test ball at the
top of a V-shaped ramp and release it down the ramp onto a flat,
non-oiled, hard-surfaced lane. The ramp will be approximately
1220 mm long and raised 400 mm on one end to achieve a
reasonable ball speed. The bowling lane (or alley) will be
approximately 1000 mm wide and 4000 mm long.

Each team will roll and score three frames of bowling. Six
standard-sized bowling pins will be used and will be arranged
and spaced in accordance with the first three rows of a standard
10-pin arrangement (the pins will be approximately 300 mm
apart). Standard 10-pin scoring (with carry over for spares and
strikes) will be used but adjusted for a six-pin format. Because
there are only six pins and three frames, the maximum score that
can be attained (three frames at 18 pins or five, six-pin strikes in
a row) will be a 54. The teams score at the end of three frames
will be the Bowling Test Score to be carried through to the Point
Evaluation Phase of the competition.

The inclined ramp must be used to deliver the ball. Under no

circumstances is the ball to be thrown, launched, or catapulted
down the alley toward the pins. If the bowl rolls off the side of the
alley prior to striking the pins, it is considered a gutter ball and
no pins will be scored for that roll. Once the bowling ball is
released and begins its descent down the incline, the ball may not
be retrieved. The resulting pin count will be recorded as the score
for that ball. The judges will be responsible for setting the pins
 and recording the score. No practice rolls will be given to any
team or individual prior to the test. Any practice rolls on ACI
equipment will result in team disqualification.
4. Final Deformation Load Test (20% of the Ball Performance
Category)Prior to competition, the team must identify the
predicted load (in Newtons) at which the test ball will be
deformed by 25 mm. If the predicted load is not identified prior
to the application of the mechanical load, the test ball will be
disqualified. The test ball will be placed in a testing apparatus. A
load shall be applied with the initial speed of the crosshead
displacement set at 10 mm/minute. The load will be applied until
the crosshead displacement of the testing apparatus has traveled
25 mm. The load at 25 mm is considered the Final Deformation
Load. This load, along with the load the team predicted for the 25
mm deformation, are the Final Deformation Load Test Scores to
be carried through to the Evaluation Phase of the competition.
5. Toughness Load Test (30% of the Ball Performance Category)
While conducting the Final Deformation Load Test, the load (in
Newtons) will be recorded for every 5 mm of crosshead
displacement and the average of the five loads will be computed.
The average load for these five displacement points will be the
Toughness Load Test Score to be carried through to the
Evaluation Phase of the competition.

P O S T E R P RE S E NTAT I O N CAT E G O RY

1. Poster Presentation. The poster presentation team shall prepare a

poster that documents the research effort, experimental
methodology, design philosophy, manufacturing procedures, and
general lessons learned in developing a fiber-reinforced concrete
bowling ball. Each poster presentation team shall submit one and
only one poster.
The poster can be created on any rolled medium but it must be light
enough to be affixed to a wall or bulletin board using masking tape
or push pins. The maximum size of each poster shall be limited to
800 mm horizontal x 1200 mm vertical. An area 150 mm wide x 100
mm high in the lower right-hand corner of the poster shall identify
the team name, the teams school association, the same five-letter
code shown on the teams bowling balls (if applicable), the advisors
name, a contact phone number or e-mail for the advisor, and the
names of the student team members. All material must be accessible
without having to lift or turn a page. There may be no mechanical or
electrical devices attached to the poster. Use a font size such that the
minimum printed height of the fonts capital letters are 6 mm.

Each poster must be submitted to the judges at registration and prior

to the start of the competition. Posters will be placed on display
during the Performance Category of the competition. At least two
judges will evaluate each poster individually and provide a
documented score for every poster. Final scores for each poster will
be posted; however, copies of a teams individual evaluation sheet
will be made available only to that team and only at their request.

The poster presentation is designed to convey information but

consideration should be given to doing this in a creative way. A
successful poster will stand out from the rest and draw people
toward it in a tasteful and situationally appropriate manner. The
poster shall adhere to the size and informational requirements
identified herein. It shall be well organized and easy to follow. It
shall be self-evident and not require any type of supplemental
 explanation during judging. The information contained on the
poster (including spelling and punctuation) must be technically
correct.

The poster needs to fully identify the mixture design used for the
bowling ball, along with the fiber type and dosage. An explanation of
how the properties of the bowling ball change subject to the type
and size of the fiber selected as well as variations in the mixture
design should be provided. The teams experimental process as well
as its manufacturing process should be documented along with an
explanation of how both were or could be improved or economized.
Finally, the poster should provide suggestions for potential
improvements or process techniques that may warrant further
study. Posters must be the original design and creation of the
entrants. Each poster shall be unique to a team. In submitting the
poster, each team agrees that the poster may be displayed on ACIs
website and in Concrete International magazine.

Using the evaluation sheets, each judge will calculate a score of 0

through 10 (10 being the best) for each poster in each of 10
categories. The average score of all the judges becomes the teams
presentation score as well as the total competition points for the
Poster Presentation Category of the competition.

The ten categories in which the posters will be evaluated include:

1. Adherence to the specified poster format;

2. General presentation and appearance of the poster;
3. Organization and clarity of scientific principles used in the
development of the mixture;
4. Soundness of the scientific principles used in the development of
the mixture design;
5. Presentation of intermediate experimental results;
6. Explanation of their choice of fiber;
7. Explanation of the changes in the performance of the mixture as
they relate to fiber dosage;
8. Clarity and economy of the manufacturing process;
9. Guidance and suggestions for further study; and
10. Economy of information presented.

T E S T E VAL UAT I O N AND CO M P E T I T I O N P O I NT S

Evaluation of the Bowling Ball Performance Category

Mass TestThe Mass Test Score is the actual mass of the bowling
ball (in kg). The intent of the test is to develop a ball with the highest
mass without going over the 5.5 kg limit. A teams mass score is
represented by MT and the lowest bowling ball mass score, among
all team balls, is represented by ML. The competition point value for
a teams mass test will be Mass PV, where

00:03:06

Mass PV = (10) [(MT ML)/(5.5 ML)]

Mass PV is then modified to represent 10% of the overall
competition points for a 100-point base score. If a ball has a mass
greater than 5.5 kg, it will be disqualified.

Diameter Consistency TestThe Diameter Consistency test scores

come from three measured ball diameters (in mm). The intent of the
test is to determine the consistency of the spherical shape of the
bowling ball within a range of diameter measures (between 185 and
215 mm). A teams three diameter measures are represented by D1,
D2, and D3. The competition point value for any particular teams
diameter test will be Diameter PV, where

Diameter PV = (10) [13.33 AVEDEV (D1, D2, D3)]/13.33

Diameter PV is then modified to represent 10% of the overall

competition points for a 100-point base score. If any of the diameter
measurements are greater than 215 mm or less than 185 mm, the
ball will be disqualified.

Six-Pin Bowling TestSix-pin bowling points are based on the score

rolled during a three-frame game. The highest score for a three-
frame, six-pin game is 54. A teams score in the six-pin bowling test
is represented by B. The competition point value for any particular
teams bowling test will be Bowling PV, where

Bowling PV = B/(5.4)

Bowling PV is then modified to represent 30% of the overall

TOP
competition points for a 100-point base score.

Final Deformation Load TestThe Final Deformation Load points

are based on how closely the team predicts the load (in Newtons) at
a 25 mm deformation. The scores for the test are the load measured
at which the ball was actually deformed 25 mm and the load at
which the team predicted the ball would be deformed by this
amount. A teams measured load is represented by LM and the
predicted load is LP. The competition point value for a teams Final
Deformation Load Test will be Final Deformation PV, where

Final Deformation PV = (10) {[LM |(LM LP)|]/LM}

where PV cannot be less than 0.

Final Deformation PV is then modified to represent 20% of the

overall competition points for a 100-point base score.

Toughness Load TestThe Toughness Load Test points are based on

a teams ability to maximize the average value of the applied load (in
Newtons) at the five deformation points. The score for the test is the
average value of the five applied loads at the 5 mm deformation
points. An individual team score is represented as AVGL. The
minimum score for all of the teams is MINL, and the maximum score
for all of the teams is MAXL. The competition point value for any
particular teams Toughness Load Test will be Toughness Load PV,
where

Toughness Load PV = (10) (AVGL-MINL)/(MAXL-MINL)

Toughness Load PV is then modified to represent 30% of the overall

competition points for a 100-point base score.

TiebreakerIf, after the conclusion of the five performance test,

there is a tie in any of the top three performance positions, a
tiebreaker will be used to determine the final ranking. In the event
of a tie, the team with the best score in the six-pin bowling test will
be given the advantage. If a tie persists, the tiebreaker will pass on to
the best score in the Toughness Load Test, then on to the best score
in the Final Deformation Load Test, then on to the best score in the
Mass Test, and then on to the best score in the Diameter Consistency
Test. If the score is still tied, the tiebreaker will be determined by a
conference of at least two judges, who will use whatever means they
feel are fair to assess the performance, break the tie, and declare
which team has the advantage.

Evaluation of the Poster Presentation Category

Poster Presentation EvaluationPoster Presentation points are
based on the average score awarded by the judges for the Poster
Presentation. Each judge awards the team with a score from 0 to 10
in 10 separate categories with 10 being the maximum number of
points allowed per category. Competition points total for the poster
will be the summation of all scores awarded in all 10 categories
divided by the number of judges, with 100 being the maximum
number of points as set forth in the following equation.

Poster Presentation Points = [(Judge 1 score) + + (Judge N score)]/N

TiebreakerIf, after the conclusion of the poster presentation

evaluation, there is a tie in any of the top three positions, a
tiebreaker will be used to determine the final ranking. The
tiebreaker will be determined by a conference of at least two judges,
who will use whatever means they feel are fair to assess the
performance, break the tie, and declare which team has the
advantage.
JUDG I NG

The competition and presiding judge will be appointed by the Chair

of ACI Committee S801, Student Activities, and the Chair of ACI
Subcommittee 544-B, Education. This judge will appoint other judges
from ACI Committee 544, Fiber-Reinforced Concrete, or volunteers
as needed.

1. The judges will determine whether or not the rules have been
followed.
2. The decision of the judges will be final, and appeals will not be
considered.
3. The judges retain the right to use any means or method they feel
are necessary to verify and enforce the requirements of the
competition.
4. The judges retain the right to interpret, modify, or eliminate any
section or sections of these rules as special circumstances arise.

S UBM I T T I NG T HE BO WL I NG BAL L E NT RI E S AND

S UP P O RT I NG M AT E RI AL S

1. Advance Online Registration is required. The Online Advance

Registration Form must be submitted no later than March 3, 2014.
2. The Official Submittal Form must be submitted electronically by
.....
3. The bowling balls accompanied bya hard copy of theOfficial
Submittal Formmust be submitted in person along with the
specimen no later than 10:00 a.m. on the day of the competition.

CO M P L I ANCE WI T H ACI BO WL I NG BAL L CO M P E T I T I O N

RUL E S

ACI reserves the right to perform detailed examination and check

entries for compliance with the competition rules. Examination will
also be done after the competition. If examination shows that a team
did not follow the rules, the team, their advisor, and teams from the
same school will be disqualified. ACI Committee S801 will further
document recommendations to sanction the team, their advisor,
and/or school/university participation in future competitions.
CO NTACT I NF O RM AT I O N

For technical inquiries:

Michelle Totin
American Concrete Institute

38800 Country Club Drive

Farmington Hills, MI 48331

Fax: (248) 848-3179

E-mail: [email protected]

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