Transcript Earthquake Webquest

Earthquake Webquest
Designing an Earthquake
Resistant Structure
Directions: Use this non-linear PowerPoint to complete your research on Earthquake
Resistant structures. Each of the four topics are hyperlinked to the material that you will
need to study and understand!! REMEMBER….. You will be working as a team to construct
a structure that can withstand a simulated 7.5 earthquake, so your independent research is
critical for your team’s structure!
Vibrating Buildings
Adding
Dampers
Earthquake Resistant
Structure Research
Isolating
Building
Strengthening
Buildings
Overview
Click on overview to view sample projects
Introduction
 Task
 Project Process
 Project Materials
 Rules for Materials
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Resources
 Special Information
 Champion
 Rubrics
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Overview
Introduction
Earthquakes and other natural disasters can
damage or destroy man-made structures.
Imagine that you work for a company that
specializes in building disaster-proof structures.
 For this project you have been asked to design a
skyscraper that will be built in a city where
earthquakes sometimes occur.
 The city planners would like to see your design
along with the designs of other companies.
They will select the best design for the
construction of the skyscraper.
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Overview
Task
Every team will design, build, and test a model structure
made out of balsa wood, cardboard, string, and pieces of
material of your choice (must be teacher approved).
 Your model will be tested on a specially built earthquake
machine. This machine simulates the stresses that occur
during earthquakes.
 Your model should be able to withstand a 10 second
earthquake without collapsing.
 You will be competing against other companies by
attempting to build the best structure.
 You will give a brief presentation prior to the final test.
In this report you will discuss your internet research and
how it helped you design your structure.
 Each team is required to keep a monetary log, for your
team’s budget proposal is factored into the selection
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process
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Overview
Project Process
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Your team will need to fulfill each of the
following roles:
– Architect
– Technology Director
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-- Treasurer
-- Project Manager
Special Note: taking on any of the roles
above does not mean that you do all of the
work. It means that you are in charge of that
responsibility. Other members of the team can
help you with your responsibilities and do part of
the work.
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Overview
Architect
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Using “Google: Sketch-up” to create an architectural
drawing of your structure. (BONUS PTS. ARE EARNED
FOR ANY TEAM THAT CHOOSES TO USE THIS
PROGRAM)
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Design carefully! Your structure must withstand a 7.5
magnitude earthquake.
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Your actual structure must closely match your drawing.
Only minor changes will be allowed. Use your Internet
research in your design. Use must cite “3” sources
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Project Process
Treasurer
Purchase materials needed for your structure.
You may purchase the materials from the
Construction Supply Company (teacher).
 You must complete a purchase order and record
all of your expenditures ….this is all part of the
final contract
 You will have to type up a final expenditures
report for contract/lab report….forms will
handout out
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Project Process
Technology Director
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Search the Internet for information that could assist you
in your project. You may use the websites listed in the
Resources section of this webquest or you can conduct
your own search.
You should try to find websites that provide information
on building structures that are able to withstand
earthquakes or other natural disasters. Search for ideas
that will help engineer and design your structure.

Special Note: You must provide the name(s) or URL’s of the
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You should explain why you think your design will out
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perform all the other competitors!!!!!!
Project Process
websites that you visited in your final presentation (2 to 3 minutes).
During your presentation you must explain how the information
provided helped you throughout your project and to design your
structure.
Project Manager
All team members will participate in the
construction process.
 You are responsible for storage of your
structure and materials. Be careful not to
waste or unnecessarily damage your
materials.
 Clean up your area when finished.
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Project Process
Project Materials
Product
Cost (per item)
Item Number
Balsa Wood
(measure in cm)
$10.00 per cm
SPA-1234
String
$50.00 per cm
MAR-5678
Item of Your choice
$100.00 per item
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Cardboard
$100.00 per square
cm
SST-1972
Special Note: The materials you will be using are delicate and can be
easily damaged during construction or while being stored. You may
purchase an insurance policy to protect you from this loss. This policy will
allow you to purchase an additional $1,500.00 of materials buy you have
to abide by the restrictions.
The cost of the policy is $500.00. This initial cost will be taken out of
your budget. You may purchase a policy from the Insurance Agent
(teacher).
Insurance Restrictions
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Overview
Insurance Restrictions
Insurance must be purchased prior to beginning
of the construction of your structure. Insurance
purchases will not be allowed after construction
begins.
 You may use the policy only in the event of a
catastrophic loss (major damage). You may not
use the policy for minor breaks or loss of
material.
 The Insurance Agent will make the
determination regarding the severity of the
damage. Decisions made by the Agent are final!
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Project Materials
Rules for Use of Materials
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How you decide to construct your building is very critical
You must use only the materials your team purchases in class. You
may bring in one item to add to structure; however, it must be
approved the teacher.
Your structure must be able to be strapped to the “Earthquake Board”
Your structure must be 45 cm tall….15 cm per floor.
All floors must be 22 cm x 22 cm tall!!! No pyramids!!!!
-Load requirements…. Every floor of your model must be able to carry 10 grams for
each square centimeter of its area.
-Your model must be able to carry the required load on all floors at the same time.
-On the day of the challenge, you can use the weights provided to check that your
model can carry the vertical load.
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To purchase materials, your treasurer must complete the
purchase order form. The treasurer is responsible for
keeping track of how much money is spent.
Purchase order forms will be provided by the teacher
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Overview
Resources
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Below you will find a few websites that you may wish to
visit. These sites may provide information that is useful
to you in your structure design.
You may also wish to conduct your own Internet search.
If you use the information in a website be sure to
include it in your final report by giving the name, URL
(address). Also write a short description of what you
learned in the website and how you used it in your
project.
- My Big Campus: I have provided many helpful videos
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Building Safer Structures
Quake: Hazards and Preparedness
Building Earthquake Safe Structures
The Right Technology for Retrofit and Construction
Exploratorium: Life Along the Faultline: Building for the BigBack to
Overview
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Special Information
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Individuals may lose points on their score for the
following:
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Horseplay (-3)
Not staying in area with team/running around (-3)
Too loud (-3)
Not participating appropriately (-5)
Disturbing other groups (-5)
After 2 incidents an individual will be removed from the activity
and given a zero (0) on the project.
The Building Inspector (teacher) will conduct final
testing. Each structure will be measured and inspected
for project requirement violations. Violations will
disqualify a structure from competition. The Building
Inspector’s decisions are final.
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Overview
Champion
The winning structure from each block will be
determined by the top overall score in the class.
 Score sheet will be provided
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Overview
Rubrics
Your final grade for the project will be
recorded on the Earthquake Team Score
sheet. (Attached to the back of this
packet)
 Be sure to look at both the rubric and the
team score sheet carefully. (Attached to
the back of this packet)
 This will help you to understand the
scoring process.
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Overview