 
|
The NAQCC June 2024 Challenge NAQCC Monthly Challenges are originated and information regarding rules, ideas, or suggestions go to Gary K1YAN. Email him at  .Challenge results and the Challenge App (the online Challenge tracking and reporting application) is administered by Charlie N1AOK. Email him with any questions at  PLEASE SEND ALL CHALLENGE SUBMISSIONS TO CHARLIE!!! (If you use the online Challenge App, it will automatically send it to him). THE CHALLENGE APPLICATION HAS MOVED! THE NEW LOCATION IS: http://naqcc.wb5rvz.org The CONTROLLED DEMOLITION Challenge PREMISE: Some things are just fascinating to watch. Seeing a building or structure being demolished as it collapses into a pile of rubble has to be right up there on the list. A controlled demolition is done when it is not desirable to bring down the structure using standard demolition methods. The site may be too congested to allow access by normal demolition equipment. It may not be possible to keep the site isolated for the time required for a normal teardown due to traffic or other reasons. It is also possible that it is more economical to implode the structure. A controlled demolition uses explosives to bring down the structure being removed, but not with just one big blast. It is the result of a lot of planning, preparing the structure by removing supporting parts of it and finally setting off a series of small explosions. The explosions remove key supporting elements and allow gravity to cause a collapse from a massive structural failure. So how do you do a controlled demolition? It begins with a very detailed engineering study of the structure you want to take down. The goal is to understand how the structure was designed and constructed and what will happen as various supporting parts are removed. The idea is first to determine what to remove to leave the structure weakened and ready for a controlled collapse, but safe to enter and work in. Next comes the part that is a mix of science and art. After determining in what direction and in what sequence a collapse should occur, locations for the required explosives are decided. Size of the charge, exactly how it will be installed and in what sequence all the charges will be exploded determine how the collapse will happen. Part of the planning also considers such things as hazardous materials that need to be dealt with. A cloud of asbestos, lead or mercury from fluorescent lights floating into the sky has to be avoided. For some small structures the planning may only take a week or two while larger, more complex jobs may take six months or more. The folks who do this kind of work know what they are doing and stage quite a display on demolition day. Don’t miss it if they come to your area. It is worth making the effort to see the show in person. TIME FRAME: The first day of the month 0000Z through the last day of the month 2400Z. RULES: Just make these words from calls of stations you work, subject to the General Challenge Rules. CONTROLLED DEMOLITION STRUCTUAL STUDY REMOVE SUPPORT STRUCTURES EXPLOSIVE CHARGE SEQUENCE DETONATION The 90 total letters contain these 19 different letters : A C D E G H I L M N O P Q R S T U V X You can use each letter in a call TWICE. For example you could use K3WWP for 2 K's, 4 W's, and 2 P's. Subsequent QSO's with the same station cannot be used for additional letters. For example, no matter how many times you work K3WWP, you can only use his call for 8 of the letters in the words. See General Rule #5 for more details on what callsign letters can be used. If you need some help with your alphabet challenge record keeping take a look at our Alphabet Tutorial page for everything from some great pencil & paper methods to fully computerized tools. AWARDS: A certificate and Participation Point go to everyone making all the words and submitting their report before the deadline. A Participation Point goes to everyone making at least 1, but not all the words and submitting their report before the deadline. YOU MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT AT LEAST ONE WORD TO RECEIVE A PARTICIPATION POINT! PRIZES: A choice of an item made by master woodworker Gregg WB8LZG as shown on our prizes page here goes to someone selected via a random drawing from all who participate and submit a report for this month's challenge. A person can only win once, then they become ineligible for future drawings. LOGS: For your report, list the words you made and the station used for each letter in the word. The number of stations listed must be the same as the number of letters in each word, even though you use the same station for more than one letter as in: WORD - K3WWP N2OD WA8REI N2OD NEXT - NF8M W8REI N8XMS K9EYT (Note how N2OD is listed for both the O and D.) You may also include comments about the challenge. Please preface any comments you want posted with "SOAPBOX:" so we will know what you want posted and what is private. Send your results as text in the horizontal format shown above to Charlie N1AOK at: charlie.wilber AT gmail.com (You must type that address into your email program.) Subject must read: (your call) NAQCC (month year) Challenge For example: K3WWP NAQCC January 2022 Challenge All entries must be RECEIVED before the 10th of the following month at 2400Z. Results: All the above get a certificate and participation point. All below get only a participation point. Not eligible for a certificate or participation point for the following reason(s): @ = Non-member $ = QRO power Soapbox: |