Assignment
plan and sketch a potential semester project

The idea is to build a shake table to simulate ground motion during an earthquake so that architectural students could explore how to minimize damage and improve their architectural designs. 

Using this earthquake shake table, it will be possible to visualize data about the behavior of a structure thanks to the use of some sensors (accelerators). The results will be visualized in a LCD screen. Once the model is located on a shake table, weights could be attached to each floor and the roof.  Sensors are attached to the shake table and to the top of the building.  The results of shake table testing (acceleration versus time of the shake table and the top of the building as the shake table is moved back and forth) can be monitored on the computer screen.

The final project includes as well the design and construction of structural models to test them using the shake table. 

References:

Due to the complexity of the project, it will be developed by a team of two people: Covadonga Lorenzo y Epifanio L. Cueva. We will share the assignments in every step of the design and fabrication. 

We have been thinking in thee different possibilities for the shake table that will be constructed with a square platform made of wood. It will have some degrees of freedom, meaning it can move in separate directions. 

The first one is the shaker board, using marbles under a lid; the second one is the shake table, using a base made of wood, a shake platform and a motor as a mechanism to simulate earthquake movements and the third one (explained below) that is the one we are going to develop. 

After analyzing references and examples of different earthquake tables we decided to design and create our own model of a shake table using a Function Generator and two mechanical vibrators that move depending on the frequency generated by the mentioned Function Generator. 

1. One Function generator 

2. The shake platform

It is a rectangular platform made of wood with metal washers on each end of the wooden dowels for movement. Two mechanical vibrators will be located under the table to move it.

3. Structural models

Different types of structural models will be developed to see how all them stand up and to analyze the results. 

4. Sensors to test the data

We are going to work together on subsystems.

Covadonga Lorenzo: 

1. Design and make the shake platform and the structural models.
2. Design and make at least one input (two accelerators) and one output (led array)
3. to write an application using processing to interface with the accelerators for the analysis of the data.

Epifanio L. Cueva: 

1. Design and make the Function Generator.
2. Design and make at least one input (control buttons of the funcion generator) and one output (LCD screen)
3. to write an application using processing to interface with the input and output devices