ELISABETH GAGNON
The U of T Concrete Toboggan team participates in the competition GNCTR every year. The toboggan must consist of concrete skis, a mechanical steering and braking system, and roll cage - our team opts for a carbon fibre shell
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As captain of the U of T concrete toboggan team for two years, I managed a team of 13 leads, 15 competition members, and roughly 30 general members. I was also responsible for a budget of $70,000.
Another responsibility was for me to provide valuable design insight. Leads asked for my guidace during the concept generation, manufacturability of the design, and final approval of the design.
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The toboggan is fully fabricated by the team, however due to COVID-19 restrictions the toboggan was not completed in 2022. Components of the toboggan can be found on the right.
Concrete skis in their mould
Chassis and steering system
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Prior to being appointed captain, I was responsible for the ski profile. The design includes three fins to aid in maneuvering as well as an elf toe for snow control. Over the years the team has chosen to iterate on my ski design.
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After performing compressive tests to determine the yield strength of the concrete mix, dynamic simulations were performed in SolidWorks to ensure the skis can withstand the necessary loading conditions
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My three years on the concrete toboggan team taught me invaluable design and manufacturing skills. It taught me how to prototype, iterate on designs, and to problem solve when designs do not work the way it is intended. Additionally, I learned how to design as a team, to work with members of varying skill sets, and to never be afraid to try new things.