In this session we will look at oscillating systems and the specific application of earthquakes.
Introduction
How are earthquakes measured and what is special about the Richter scale?
Harmonic motion
So, let’s look at the principles, starting with frequency:
And then amplitude:
Real systems have a natural frequency – this is the frequency at which they will resonate. This video demonstrates how different buildings might have different natural frequencies.
The “Great Bristol Shake Off” – what happens when our undergraduate Civil Engineering students battle it out on the earthquake shaking table to see whose structure can withstand the quakes?
Making buildings and communities safer
Earthquake Engineers and Earth Scientists from the University of Bristol have been working with local experts, governments, and NGOs in Nepal to develop ways to make buildings and communities safer – starting with schools.
Want to find out more?
For each session we will highlight some further resources where you can find out more – these are not essential but if you are interested you might find them interesting.
Book Suggestion
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe, 2015.
A light-hearted book this time by a physicist and NASA robot designer that shows we can find a solution to even the most unexpected questions if we apply the right approach.
Time to have a go
Have a go at designing your own quake-proof building. What materials will you use? What balance of strength and flexibility are you aiming for and what kind of structure will give you this. What physical principles should you apply to analyse your design and how might you test it?