Designs

[eta150]

So these towers should be much taller than in years past, right? I wonder what kind of impact that will have. Also, are there any rules about the lengths of the bases?


ps, I'm digging all the hunger games avatars

[fleet130]

Correct! The opening is a square.

While many people are aware the intent is for a square hole, there is no guarantee the event supervisor at your tournament will be. Since the rules don't specify a square hole, there's a possibility (I agree it's a small one) that the hole could be round, or some other interpretation.

[smartkid222]

I think it's almost guaranteed to be a square. If it was a circle it would need to say "a circle with a diameter of X". Other shapes wouldn't fit the way the rules are written. You can't exactly have a "20x20cm triangle," you would have to say a "triangle with a base of x and a height of X" or something like that. If it were any other shape it would be specified. Yes, it's always good to be on the safe side and made clarifications and such things but...99.9% chance it's a square.
Also, test bases are often reused from previous years and thats the size they have always been.
Example

[fleet130]

I never put anything past event supervisors. Over the years I have seen many rule interpretations that made no sense, but that's another thread!

[Paradox21]

Well, if you build your tower to fit over a 20cm square, it will surely clear the space if an event supervisor thinks it is supposed to be a circle.

[rjm]

In the specification of the Test Base, line 4.b.ii says "The test base must have a 20.0 cm x 20.0 cm square opening at its center."

The statement in Construction Parameters, line 3.b, described what the tower must do: it shall "span" the opening, and there is a direct reference, in parentheses, to line 4.b.ii. That's why internal cross references are provided. I don't see how any reasonable person would interpret this otherwise, but then I've also dealt with my share of other folks.

Even without the direct statement of a square opening, I believe that a square would be a worst case. A triangle with base and height dimensions of 20.0cm and 20.0 cm respectively would fit within the square; an equilateral triangle with 20.0 cm side would be smaller. A 20.0 cm diameter circle would fit within the square. A rhombus with 20.0 cm sides may not fit within the square but would still accommodate a tower designed to sit at the midpoints of a 20.0 cm square. Higher order polygons and irregular shapes would have to fit the rule of 20.0 cm x 20.0 cm in some manner, and I think it would be a big stretch of logic to argue that, for example, an octogon with 20.0 cm sides is a 20.0 cm x 20.0 cm hole. It would be much larger. With only two dimensions given to describe the hole along with the condition that the tower shall span the hole, the most direct interpretation is that the the measurement is across the hole, not along segments of its perimeter. Regardless, the word "square" is in there.

Usually, Towers have square bases designed to sit at the midpoints of the sides of a square opening with just enough clearance to avoid slipping in. It doesn't matter what the diagonal measure of the opening is, no one uses that. If anyone is still making triangular base towers, the tower base would be larger and the tower slope more severe.

Bob Monetza
Grand Haven, MI

[quizbowl]

question: is there any good advantages for having a circular base, and thus a circular tower?

[dragonfly]

question: is there any good advantages for having a circular base, and thus a circular tower?

No. There aren't. Triangles and squares are much stronger, plus you'll likely have to spend more time to bend or cut wood into a circle... If your question really comes down to "Should I experiment with towers with circular bases", the answer is that you should not.

Thanks for your very clear explanation rjm!

[lllazar]

So we can build a 16x16 or so base and have the corners span the 20x20 square? Would that be bad structurally? I don't see why it would but would having less surface area of the base on the surface be detrimental to the structure?

[quizbowl]

question: is there any good advantages for having a circular base, and thus a circular tower?

No. There aren't. Triangles and squares are much stronger, plus you'll likely have to spend more time to bend or cut wood into a circle... If your question really comes down to "Should I experiment with towers with circular bases", the answer is that you should not.

Thanks for your very clear explanation rjm!

my problem is that i always have problems with joints; there is a certain wood cutting machine at my school that can cut perfect circles out of sheets of wood., we were planning on using that.