Shake, rattle and roll! Ever wonder how engineers design a building to withstand an earthquake? Find out in this series of exhibits where you build a structure and test it by simulating an earthquake. There are several earthquake platforms and a variety of building materials for you to use. You will also explore bridges and discover some clever design tricks developed by the Romans. Moving large structures can also be a challenge for engineers and you can learn how cranes, gears, and belts and pulleys work. 

Walk-On Earthquake Platform
Design Challenge: Can you build a 6-foot structure that will withstand a one-minute simulated earthquake?
Construct a building from giant foam blocks on a large earthquake platform. Then test how well it survives as you, and your building, experience a simulated earthquake and delayed aftershock. Like ground movements in an earthquake, this platform moves back and forth and is electronically programmed to pause and resume, realistically simulating a quake and aftershock.

Shake Tables
Design Challenge: Can you construct a four-story building that will withstand an earthquake? How can you strengthen your building so it won’t collapse?

• In this series of activities you can experiment with different building materials in constructing a building. In Cross Bracing
  Survive the earthquake!, design a building using the columns and decks, test it on the shake table, then experiment by adding extra supports (cross bracing) to the walls of your structure. Remember, engineers use various strategies for reducing or dampening the vibration of an earthquake. How many ideas have you come up with to keep your building standing? Try a different building material.
• In Tall Buildings
  Try different designs... the challenge is to use the log blocks to create a structure that is 18 inches tall that will survive the simulated earthquake.
• Now, in Tower Builder
  Now, you try!, try building a structure that can support a simulated water tank above a line eighteen inches above the table using Duplo blocks. And yes, it has to remain standing after the earthquake.

Build A Bridge Computer Kiosk
Design Challenge: Can you build a bridge that will support a bus, truck or train?
Engineer a bridge on a computer by choosing the number and size of girders.  The test it for stability by driving a truck, bus or locomotive over it.  The program uses a mathematical bridge analysis algorithm and has four levels of difficulty with options for tutorials and hints along the way.

Paper Bridge
Design Challenge: Can you make a bridge with pieces of paper that will support a specified weight?
Fold, roll, or cut a piece of paper to create a bridge that will connect two wooden supports. Then test the strength
Can you make it stronger? of the paper bridge using a specified weight. Learn how simple geometric shapes increase a bridge’s strength.

Arch Bridge
Design Challenge: Can you create an arch bridge that will stand without supports?
Discover how arch bridges were built by the Romans over 2,000 years ago.  Learn how arches work well in bridge designs by arranging pre-cut blocks to form an arch bridge.  Then test your bridge
Will yours stand? by seeing if it can support a roadbed.

Cantilever Bridge
Design Challenge: Can you stack symmetrical blocks in an even, vertical column so that the top block is centered in the middle in cantilever fashion?
Discover how the center of gravity
Helps your overhange stand...determines the amount of overhang that can be achieved by stacking blocks in cantilevered fashion so that they extend horizontally from the base block without tipping over.

7-Foot Catenary Arch
Design Challenge: Can you put together large foam blocks to create a 7-foot tall freestanding catenary arch?
Learn how the curve of the arch is such that blocks do not experience any shear or sideways forces; they only experience forces that are along or parallel to the line of the curve of blocks
Team work is the name of the game.

Cargo Crane, Gears, Belts & Pulleys
Design Challenge: How do engineers move very large or heavy materials from one place to another?

• In Gears
  Play with intermediate gears, discover how turning a gear on one side of a table drives another gear on the other side of the table.
• In Belts and Pulleys
  Try changing the pulley size..., learn how turning a pulley on one side of the table in a certain direction will turn another pulley on the other side of the table. Try varying the size of the gear or pulley and see what happens.
• The Cargo Crane
  Learn with an 11-ft tall jib crane is a fun way to explore how large loads are moved in real life. Watch the gears and pulley system work together as you turn the wheels of a gantry crane to maneuver block cargo from a dock to a freighter ship using a conveyor belt.

Cool Structures Activities and Online Structures Games

Visit other ENGINEER IT! areas!

Water Area Structures Area

Wind Area Exhibit Overview

ENGINEER IT! was made possible through a grant from the National Science Foundation and was created and designed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OSMI). This exhibit is locally sponsored by Yellowbook.