Shaker Table

Idea

A "shaker table" is an oscillating platform that can be used to test structures by simulating earthquakes. These platforms can also be used to demonstrate physics concepts like resonance. A physics professor at Howard Community College requested that a shaker table be developed for instructional use. It was also used as a kid-friendly STEM demonstration at the 2014 Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, DC.

• 
  Multi Axis Shaker Table
• 
  Earthquake Simulator
• 
  Educational Earthquake Toy

Conceive

Not applicable - Conception has been informally described above. Students start with design or implement.

Design

• Manual shaker table - In spring 2014, students will build(implement) the design documented here http://nees.org/resources/2907.
• Automatic shaker table - As of spring 2014, students are actively working on designing a single-axis, variable frequency, Arduino-controlled shaker table that does not require manual operation. The design documentation will be posted here when complete.

Implement

• Manual shaker table - build the design mentioned above
• Automatic shaker table - students to build after design is complete

Operate

• Manual shaker table - test and demo for 2014 National Engineers Week in February at Howard Community College
• Automatic shaker table - demo at USA Science & Engineering Festival, and used by physics/engineering faculty at HCC
  

Possible demonstrations:

• NEES Teaching Demonstration: Earthquake-proof K'nex Buildings
• ASEE paper with multiple experiments
• Structural resonance (find the resonant frequency of various K'NEX towers)
• K'Nex Buildings: Cross Bracing and Pendulum Tuned Mass Damper
• Earthquake resistant structural design