Shaker Table

Idea
A "shaker table" is an oscillating platform that can be used to test structures by simulating earthquakes. These platforms can also be used to demonstrate physics concepts like resonance. A physics professor at Howard Community College requested that a shaker table be developed for instructional use. It was also used as a kid-friendly STEM demonstration at the 2014 Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, DC.

Conceive
Not applicable - Conception has been informally described above. Students start with design or implement.

Design

 * Manual shaker table - In spring 2014, students will build(implement) the design documented here http://nees.org/resources/2907.
 * Automatic shaker table - As of spring 2014, students are actively working on designing a single-axis, variable frequency, Arduino-controlled shaker table that does not require manual operation.   The design documentation will be posted here when complete.

Implement

 * Manual shaker table - build the design mentioned above
 * Automatic shaker table - students to build after design is complete

Operate

 * Manual shaker table - test and demo for 2014 National Engineers Week in February at Howard Community College
 * Automatic shaker table - demo at USA Science & Engineering Festival, and used by physics/engineering faculty at HCC

Possible demonstrations:
 * NEES Teaching Demonstration: Earthquake-proof K'nex Buildings
 * ASEE paper with multiple experiments
 * Structural resonance (find the resonant frequency of various K'NEX towers)
 * K'Nex Buildings: Cross Bracing and Pendulum Tuned Mass Damper
 * Earthquake resistant structural design