Representation of the project
Earthquakes have been an ongoing natural disaster that majorly impacted humans as they can be injured or killed through the process. Homes are often destroyed and can take a long time to rebuild after the disaster. The engineering challenge allowed students to research different design structures to create an earthquake-resistant building. Each group were given a budget of $60 as there was a limit for the amount of materials we could use for our structure. The task was to build a model using spaghetti and blue tack within budget that could withstand more than ten seconds on an earthquake simulator and a weight test.
Overview of the engineering process:
The foundation of our prototype was a square base which built up in a straight line for three levels, each with a height of approximately 17cm. Then, a trapezoidal prism that supported the platform. The model consisted of the technique of single diagonal bracings which worked efficiently to support the side walls by connecting the two diagonal points in between each level. This connection balanced the building when it was tested on the simulator and also allowed for 100g of weight.
On the simulator, I noticed the slight shaking of the upper build-up to the top platform due to its height. Although this did not cause collapsing, adding shear walls will be more stable because it connects from the base to the top, reducing sways. When attempting the weight test, the top half was very stable, but upon the 150g, the base of the building bent and broke. This could be that the pressure of the entire prototype was forced down to the base, causing it to collapse. To improve this in the future, we would add a cross bracing for the base level, so there will be more spaghetti strands supporting the upper part of the building.
Teamwork and Collaboration:
The members of our group were Leah and Ebonnie. Leah played the role of the team manager, making sure that we all understood the challenge and kept us on track. Ebonnie acted as the speaker, who seek help from teachers or outside experts. This was useful when she asked her brother who had experience and gave us some ideas. I am the reporter, in the role of making sure everything is up to date, such as the completion of Stile. I also act as the initiator by observing team progress and giving opinions and suggestions.