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| Scott Harvey |
The frequency
of earthquakes in Oklahoma has increased remarkably in recent years. Prior to
2009, Oklahoma experienced one to three magnitude 3.0 (M3.0) or larger earthquakes, but this number is steadily increasing.
In 2014 Oklahoma experienced more M3.0 or larger earthquakes than any
other state—including California and Alaska—with fourteen earthquakes in excess
of M4.0. Larger earthquakes (M5.0+)
may pose a threat to bridges, buildings, and their contents, as previously seen
in California.
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| Six-degree-of-freedom shake table |
To test the resiliency
of structures and equipment to earthquakes, assistant
professor Scott Harvey will be expanding the dynamic testing capabilities at
the Donald G. Fears Structural Engineering Laboratory by acquiring a six-degree-of-freedom shaking table. Traditional
shake tables offer only a single axis of motion, while the new shaking table
offers the ability to conduct three-dimensional tests, which better represents
real earthquake ground motions. Experiments to be conducted on the new shake
table include the seismic testing of isolation systems commonly used to protect
valuable equipment—such as computer servers and museum artifacts—from harsh
floor motions. In the course Dynamics of
Structures, students will participate in shake-table tests to increase
their understanding of earthquake engineering.
