In a scientific completion held between seven universities of Kurdistan Region to build a robust bridge, Koya University team took the first place. The American University of Sulaimani hosted the contest and sponsored the project on 14/5/2017; where a team of Koya University took part in the race and came out on top.
The idea behind the competition
With regard to the idea of the competition, Dr. Rasty Dilshad, instructor of Department of Manufacturing Engineering and supervisor of Koya University team says, “The idea of the contest stems from building some robust bridges out of Spaghetti by some groups of students from Engineering College in accordance with some previously specified standards and holding competitions of the ability of the bridges to hold the heaviest load till they reach the breaking point. The first contest of Spaghetti Bridge Building was held in 1983 by Okanagan College, British Columbia/ Canada.”
Both Norbert Pozsonyi and Aliz Totivan from University of Allegory/ Hungary hold the highest record for a spaghetti bridge that weighed 982 grams and held greatest load of 443, 58 kg; the second highest record was set by Brendon Syryda and Tyler Pearson from Okanagan College who constructed a spaghetti bridge with the same weight, 982 grams and held 98, 71 kg. The bridge built by Shvan Hakim and Rekan Sharif from Department of Manufacturing weighed 1020 grams and held 101,5 kg, which is very close to the second highest worldwide record. This contest was hosted in Kurdistan by both American University of Sulaimani and University of Sulaimani, the first competition was in 2015.
“Our students could participate in the competition without any logistical obstacles through the follow-ups by Shvan Hakim, Renas Ali, the students’ representative and the formal invitation forwarded to us from American University of Sulaimani; then we were notified to take part as Manufacturing Department. We followed all the necessary procedures with the support of Dr. Mohammed Haseeb, Dean of Fuculty of Engineering and Dr. Galawezh Bakr, Vice Dean,” Dr. Rasty added further regarding how Koya University took part in the contest.
Why is Spaghetti used?
Concerning the use of Spaghetti, Dr. Rasty says, “It is our top priority as engineers to develop and analyze the problems where the use of Technology is not sufficient; we always endeavor to get to the right moment where we can meet the three targets of minimum general cost, least time spent and the best design. Moreover; Spaghetti is a very cheap material in the markets and easy to deal with, it can also be used to create useful and complex structures for models and prototypes.”
“Applying what is seen on the papers in the easiest way and making the students develop their practical experience are the top two advantages of the project, in addition to demonstrating and improving their abilities and having high self-confidence,” he noted on the positive sides of the contest.
Evaluating the projects
With regard to the standards and evaluation of the projects, Dr. Rasty says, “There is an expert committee in the field of Architectural Engineering which will first check the units of the bridge to make sure that it meets the prerequisite requirements.”
Participant students in the competition
Koya University took part in the contest in three groups:
1- Manufacturing Group
Shvan Hakim
Rekan Sharif
2- Drustkrdn Group
Shankar Muhamad
Pshtiwan Abubakir
Dana Ghafar
3- Brooklyn Group
Renas Ali
Ibrahim Syamand
The supervisor of the students adds, “Unfortunately, due to their excessive fatigue, the bridge built by the students of the third group was dropped and broken while we were heading to Sulaimani; and the second group could not achieve their goal because of some technical problems during placing and loading the bridge, otherwise we aimed to attain the first three places of the contest.”
Suggestion
Dr. Rasty Dilshad points out, “My proposal to the university is to endeavor to show the talents; I have given the idea of an outstanding, innovative and fruitful project to Dr. Mohammed Haseeb, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Dr. Galawezh, Vice Dean, and they expressed their support with gratitude. The idea is to establish 22 different clubs in the faculty of Engineering, the proposed clubs are:
1- Hiking club of Faculty of Engineering.
2- Club of Piano and Guitar players/ Faculty of Engineering.
3- Club of Animal Protectors/ Faculty of Engineering.
4- Club of Pro Philosophy and History/ Faculty of Engineering
5- Club of Astronomy and Physics/ Faculty of Engineering
6- Club of Environmentalists/ Faculty of Engineering
7- Club of Fashion and Etiquette for Girls/ Faculty of Engineering
8- Club of Political and Cultural Awareness/ Faculty of Engineering
9- Club of Kurdish Dance and Fashion/ Faculty of Engineering
10 – Club of Yoga and Deep Thinking/ Faculty of Engineering
11- Club of Volleyball Players/ Faculty of Engineering
12- Club of Foreign Language Lovers/ Faculty of Engineering
13- Girls Fitness Club/ Faculty of Engineering
14- Boys Fitness Club/ Faculty of Engineering
15- Club of Boys Football Team/ Faculty of Engineering
16- Club of Flash Mob/ Faculty of Engineering
17- Club of Flower Lovers/ Faculty of Engineering
18- Club of Painting Art/ Faculty of Engineering
19- Club of Paper Art/ Faculty of Engineering
20- Club of Greatest Inventors/ Faculty of Engineering
21- Club of Car and Boat Lovers/ Faculty of Engineering
22- Club of Bicycle Travel Lovers/ Faculty of Engineering
Both (Shvan Hakim and Rekan Sharif) from Department of Manufacturing Engineering were candidates of Marhaba Scholarship in 2015-2016.
For further information, click here.
Department of Manufacturing Engineering
It is a highly important department at University of Koya for manufacturing domestic production, in addition to its future impacts of serving the Kurdish community in the fields of Production and Manufacturing. It was opened as a department of Faculty of Engineering where now students are pursuing their study for three successive years. In this department, the students will be familiarized with the most fundamental principles of Manufacturing Engineering and will be prepared as developed cadre in the field. The department now possesses an advanced workshop in which there are many significant tools; the students can make use of them not solely in practical lessons but also in their final research to conduct outstanding engineering projects and attain key achievements.
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Dr. Rasty Dilshad- PhD holder in Manufacturing Engineering (of excellent rank)- University of Stuttgart/ Germany- The field of “effectively optimizing the manufacturing methodology techniques.”
