4.4
inaBox
VOCABULARY
Retrofitting:
making
changes to a completed
structure to meet needs
that were not considered
RA T I ONA L E
In cooperative SETs (seismic engineering teams), students win
construct an inexpensive shake table for testing structures they have
built.
F OCU S QU E S T I ON S
How do earthquake engineers use shake tables to model the effects of
an earthquake on buildings, bridges, and other structures?
OB J E C T I V E S
Students will:
1. Construct a model of a shake table.
2. Design structures of various types and use the shake table to test
their seismic survivability.
3. Analyze the failures of their design models and suggest ways to
reduce damage.
at the time it was built; in this case,
to make it better able to withstand an
earthquake.
Variable:
in a scientific experiment,
the one element that is altered to test
the effect on the rest of the system.
MA T E R I A L S
TEACHING CLUES AND CUES
for each small group
Q
One copy of Master 4.4a, Shake Table Directions
Q
One piece of cardboard approx. 28 cm by 38 cm (11 in. x 15 in.)
Use corrugated
cardboard for greatest
strength.
Q
Wide packaging tape
Q
Hole-punching tool
Q
Metric ruler
Q
One cardboard box with flaps removed, approx. 30 cm by 40 cm by
20 cm (12 in. x 16 in. by 8 in. deep)
Q
Dark blue or black marker
The size of the box may
vary, as long as the size
of the cardboard varies
with it.
Q
Phillips screwdriver
Q
3 strands of packaging string, one about 30 cm long (12 in.) and
two about 60 cm long (24 in.)
Q
4 heavy-duty rubber bands
A G U
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F E M A
258
S
E I S M I C
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L E U T H S
