1. K’NEX STRUCTURE COMPETITION
SEISMIC OUTREACH
K’NEX STRUCTURE COMPETITION
University of California, San Diego Society of Civil and Structural Engineers

2. What do Structural Engineers do?
Introduction
What is an Engineer?
A person who applies scientific principles to design, construct, and understand almost all objects used by people in the world (engines, cars, bridges, machines, etc.)
What do Structural Engineers do?
Structural Engineers design buildings, bridges, dams, cars, helicopters, airplanes, satellites, off-shore platforms, ships and all other facilities required to sustain loads from various sources- air pressure, gravity, wind, waves, snow, impact, earthquakes, temperatures, vibrations, etc.

3. Part 1: Earthquake Phenomena
Faults, Ground Motion, Measures

4. Tectonic Plates
Tectonic plates - “pieces” of the earth that float on its liquid, molten core of magma.
Video - how the continents moved around over Earth’s long history due to the floating of the tectonic plates.

5. Fault Types
A fault is where two tectonic plates (or continents) meet. Earthquakes happen when two tectonic plates rub against each other.
San Andreas Fault
Pictures:

6. Seismic Waves Two types of waves:
1. P waves – causes horizontal motion of the earth (compression), travels quickly
2. S waves – causes vertical motion of the earth, carries more energy, thus causing more damage
Volunteer Demo!

7. Ground Motion: Intensity and Magnitude
Magnitude: a measure of the amount of energy that is released from an earthquake. A magnitude of an earthquake is the same no matter where you are.
Intensity: a measure of the severity of an earthquake depending on the distance from the epicenter. Intensity changes due to the location
Difference between magnitude and intensity: some spots may “feel” an earthquake more than others not necessarily because of how far away it is from the center (or epicenter), but because of the soil it is on, what fault it is, and many other factors.
(after Mavroeidis and Papageorgiou )

8. Earthquake Damage
Real Cases and Reality of Problems

9. Dangers that an earthquake poses to a city
Societal Impact
Dangers that an earthquake poses to a city
Power lines fall and electricity goes out.
Phone lines fall so phones don’t work.
Water and sewage pipes break, and sometimes sewage can get into water sources
Gas pipes break, causing fires (like San Francisco Earthquake). And if water pipes break, fire trucks can’t use fire hydrants.
Roads, bridges, and tunnels are ruined so emergency vehicles can’t get to people who need help.

10. Kobe Earthquake 1995 (M6.7) 5,500 deaths
Earthquake Damage
Kobe Earthquake 1995 (M6.7) 5,500 deaths
Video - man who is inside a skyscraper building during the Kobe Earthquake. The man is a white blob in the lower right corner.
*Video on next slide

12. Earthquake Damage: Recent Cases
Feb 2010 Chile (M8.8) Over 1 million homeless. 700 deaths.
Jan 2010 Haiti Earthquake (M7.0) 92,000 deaths. 300,000 injured. 1 million homeless.

13. Earthquake Damage: Recent Cases
March 2011 Japan (M8.9) Over 18,000 deaths
Caused a 23-foot tsunami

14. Earthquake Damage: Near home!
Baja California (M7.2)
April 2010 – Easter Sunday
Epicenter in Mexico, affected two countries
Hit 300 mi radius (hit Calexico hard)
Minimal damage and casualties
damage-light/story?id=

15. Structural Engineering
Challenge: Solving the Problems

16. What do Structural Engineers Do?
Design the “skeleton” of the structure to increase safety by resisting forces that they are exposed to which include:
Gravity, “dead” load, “live” loads (people, furniture, cars)
Lateral Loads (forces that hit from the sides)
Wind
Earthquakes!!!
Uncalculated forces from wind made the Tacoma bridge collapse (built and destroyed in 1940).

17. How Structural Engineers Plan for Disaster
Research: Mid-rise Building made from Reinforced Concrete
7-story concrete tower that was on a real-life shake table
The building was only for testing and was destroyed after this earthquake simulation
This shake table is currently the worlds largest (in terms of area), and is actually located here in San Diego
*Video on next slide

20. How Structural Engineers Plan for Disaster
Research: Two-Story Wood Frame House
Earthquake simulations on a shake table at UCSD
Houses only built for testing purposes
Outside of House
Inside Room of House

21. Structural Engineering
Considerations for building towards safety

22. Challenge: Forces Structures experience forces from many things:
People (Live Load)
Building’s weight (Dead Load)
Nature such as wind and earthquakes
Etc.
K’NEX Education
Demo!

23. Structure Components: Beams
EERI, University of Notre Dame
Part of structure that span between columns and hold up the floors
Load is transferred from the floor to the beams into the columns and down to the foundation
Beam
Demo!
Foundation

24. Structure Components: Columns
EERI, University of Notre Dame
Column
Part of structure that support the building (gravity loads)
Slender columns - buckling
Demo!
Foundation

25. Structural components: Bracing
Helps give strength to structure
Positioning helps different scenarios of “loads” and could help with money budget
Arnold, C. and Reitherman, R., Building Configuration and Seismic Design, Wiley, 1982
Demo!

26. Connections
Important to keep structure together in “breaks” (steel connections are better than tape)
Pictures: C.M. Uang

27. Part 2: K’NEX Competition
Testing your knowledge!

28. Project Scenario
A rich land owner is looking for the best design of a building in downtown San Diego near an active fault. Your goal is to make a model of an appealing, original, and economical building with lots of floor space out of K’NEX. You will be placed in a Design-Build team of 4-6 to compete to win for the best design. Awards will be given to teams who do the best in certain areas.

29. The 4 Types of People Involved
UCSD Students play 1. “THE OWNER” – Judge for best design; Provides money YOU in teams of students play all of the following 2. “THE ARCHITECT” – Designs the overall shape and “skin” of the building for the Owner; wants the building to be beautiful, appealing, original, and creative 3. “THE ENGINEER” – Designs the “skeleton” to hold up the “skin.” wants to strategically design the building to survive a major earthquake 4. “THE CONTRACTOR” – Builds what the Architect and Engineer have designed for the Owner; wants to build in a timely manner and on budget NOTE: Every student in a group helps play each role. One role is NOT assigned per one person. Every one helps with everything!

30. Architectural Drawing
Make the building look appealing and creative!
Colorful 3-D or multiple view 2-D Drawings
Include details such as Landscape (Plants, trees), windows, doors, building signs, balconies, people

31. Construction Drawings
Include the measurements of the width, height, and length
Provide multiple views (different floors and sides)
Be clear - Anyone should be able to build your design from your construction drawings
Use pens and rulers

32. Structural Engineering

33. Award Categories Prizes and Certificates that will be given:
Architectural Award - Best architectural rendering; most appealing and original
Construction Award - Best construction drawings; most clear and detailed with best interview
Structural Engineering Award – Best owners’ performance index of building that remains standing

34. Thank you! Questions?