STRESSED OUT STRUCTURES

Models of earthquake resistant buildings constructed of unattached wooden blocks were stabilized using several structural modifications: overlapping blocks, building height, buttresses, base isolators (marbles in a box), roofs and cross braces. Experiments were conducted on a homemade earthquake machine. Buildings of overlapped blocks on a base isolator were most stable.

Software Tools Used

Microsoft Front Page, Word, and Excel

Corel Photo House, WordPerfect 8

Analysis Used for all Data

1. Averages were calculated using three trials for each experiment.

2. % Improved Stability: (a - b / b) x 100 = % Improved Stability

Hardware Tools Used

ACER Scanner 310p, Digital Camera, SLR Camera

Source of the Idea for the project

I was searching the Internet and I found that a 2003 earthquake in Iran that measured 6.6 on the Richter Scale killed over 40 000 people. Even though the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in the US measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, only 62 people lost their lives (Schwartz, p.1). Buildings in California were made stronger so few people died. The idea that building structure can save lives in an earthquake made me want to experiment to see which structural modifications worked the best.

No special skills were used to build the project.

Awards Won

Wolfville School 2006 Science Fair: a place at the

2006 Annapolis Valley Regional Science Fair

2006 Annapolis Valley Regional Science Fair:

Gold medal

Acadia Science and Engineering Award

Nova Scotia Community College Geomatics Prize

Trophy for Best Engineering Project Grade 7- 12

A place with all expenses paid on Team Annapolis going to the

Canada Wide Science Fair in Chicoutimi, Quebec, May 13^th- 21^st, 2006

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ShakeLess Structures