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In the afternoon, we saw our coordinators, Dr. Wendy Daniell and Adam Crewe from Civil Engineering Department at University of Bristol. First, rule and process to design and make a model of an earthquake resistant building were explained by Dr. Daniell. And then, three pairs, which each pair consists of one Japanese student and one British student, were formed, and they explored resource material on IDEERS web site of Earthquake Engineering Group at University of Bristol. Dr. Daniell also explained about bracing. Later, students could observe an artificial earthquake created by earthquake simulator in the lab.
There was a little lecture about the relationship between stiffness and frequency of a structure. After that, each pair started to design their model. At quarter past eleven, we moved to the lab where the models were to be constructed. Again, students were given a little lecture from Dr.Crewe. Most pairs could start constructing their models before lunchtime. For those students who designed a complex shaped structure, the calculation to obtain each floor area became their homework.
We made our models in the Structures Lab for the whole day. Maiko and Will's pair could mostly finish constructing their model by the end of the day. Junya and Sheona were busy with making a complex floor system. Asuka and Siobhain were steadily constructing their hexagonal shaped model.
We started to work aiming to finish construction by 11 am. Dr. Daniell explained about natural frequency and how to measure it. Asuka and Siobhain measured their model first. Using apparatus with a graphing calculator, they swayed their model until they could get a good curve of oscillation. After all the pairs finished the measurement, we took our models to Earthquake Engineering Lab and clamped them on the shaking table, which we observed on Monday. After that, we placed the necessary weights for our structures on each floor. And then, the shaking-table tests were applied on our models. We enjoyed watching our models collapsing as the magnitude of the earthquake was getting bigger. Maiko and Will's model was so strong that it was still standing for a while after all the other models collapsed. They were so happy and satisfied with the result.
In the morning, we prepared for the presentation and wrote a report.
Akiko Yabuno (facilitator)
This team are taking advantage of a tried and tested workshop run through the University - an extremely practical and hands-on session involving invention and actual creativity. This is a perfect way to inspire budding engineers both to consider the science of their project, whilst being able to try their hands at actually putting their ideas into practice.
Julian Pickles
 The Earthquake Engineering Team makes its Presentation |
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