UT Austin — Longhorn Engineering Summer Camp
Roller coaster design (LESC)
Structure, forces, and design
At UT Austin's Longhorn Engineering Summer Camp, I dove into the full spectrum of engineering disciplines — from electrical circuits to civil construction — through an intensive summer program designed to simulate real-world engineering challenges.
The centerpiece project was the design and construction of a functional model roller coaster. This wasn't a simple craft exercise — it required applying actual civil engineering principles: calculating G-forces at each curve, selecting materials for the appropriate strength-to-weight ratio, and ensuring structural integrity across the entire track system.
Working in a multidisciplinary team, I developed both my technical and leadership skills simultaneously. Every design decision had a consequence that we could measure — a section too steep would cause derailment, a support too weak would cause collapse. Engineering in real time, with real feedback.
Key contributions
- Explored core engineering disciplines — mechanical, civil, and electrical — through immersive workshops, lectures, and real-world simulations across the two-week program.
- Led and collaborated on multidisciplinary design challenges, developing teamwork, critical thinking, and project leadership skills under time pressure.
- Applied civil engineering concepts to design and build a functional model roller coaster, incorporating structural analysis, material selection, and mechanical force calculations.
- Validated structural integrity through iterative testing, adjusting track geometry and support placement based on observed failure points.
- Presented final design to program faculty, articulating engineering decisions and trade-offs made throughout the process.
LESC was a turning point — it was the first time I experienced engineering as a team discipline rather than a solo pursuit. The roller coaster project, in particular, demonstrated how structural, mechanical, and material decisions are all interconnected. A change in one place ripples through the entire system.