#weeklychallenge11

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS QUESTIONS:

A. We test our building by putting something heavy like cellphones and we even try shoes to make sure that it is already good to go.

B. Yes, we strengthen the weaker are because we want to make sure that it wont collapse. We look at every possible weak areas so that it will be consistently built.

C. The lower part or the ground floor where we put more straws, because we want that our building will not be moved in an constant motion so that we can avoid to collapse and we make sure that it is strong atleast if the upper floor will dance the lower part is not more affected with the earthquake.

D. The upper most part, because of the straws we lack straws to be used because we put more straws below.

E. We use string in the second floor where the object will be put on, because we want that the object will not fall and it will support on the straw that we put in there.

F. We put strings everywhere that there is needed just to fully support and strengthen our building.

Earthquake proof building

Honestly, after I heard the announcement that we are tasked to build an earthquake proof building, I feel so stress already. I don’t have any idea or any tactics to apply in making that building. Few days passed, I feel so worried already.

During construction, how did you test the strength and stability of your structure?

We made 3 structures all in all. We test the strength and stability of our building by putting 2-3 cellphones on the first and second storey and afterwards we will shake the building.  The first structure, the straw was too weak for our building to withstand the intensity of the earthquake. The second structure, there were too many straws being used. And the last one, we decided to plan first for how many straw we will use and we will make it lesser hassle. We decided to use more paper clips than pins since the limit of number of paper clips, which is 100, is just enough for our building. And paper clips are lesser hassle to use than pins.

During construction, what strategies did you use to strengthen the weaker areas? Why?

There are a lot of strategies to make the building stronger. But we chose those tactics that will use lesser amount of materials in order not to maximize the required materials. One of the strategies would be the two straws that are bent outside of each corner of the first storey and as well as the strings, to support the building from standing straight and it will cause lesser shaky. We also used stronger straws compared to our first structure.

What are the strongest parts of your building? Why?

My answer would be the first storey, since there are lots of supporters attached to it to prevent it from shaking and breaking down.

What are the weakest parts of your building? Why?

The second floor, because we used too much straws in supporting the first floor that we forgot we still have to make the second floor. And the supports in first floor are stronger than the second floor. That’s the reason also why we are having a hard time finishing our building because we got stuck up at the last floor.

Where did you use the string in your structure? Why?

At first, we have no plans using the string because we thought it’s not useful. But our classmate told us to use string to make our building more stabilize. That’s why we use it by tying it to our building and to our base so that it won’t fall down.

Where did you use pins in your structure? Why?

Back to our first structure, we use pins everywhere! I mean literally. But then we realized pins are too hassle to use. And we there should be 20 pins only to use. That’s why we plan to use the pins at the second floor, to bond the straws that are used as a stabilizer of the second storey.

If you had 5 more straws, where would you add them? Why?

If given a chance to use 5 more straws, we would probably put it on the second floor and use it as a stabilizer. Because honestly, our second floor is too weak to withstand the major earthquake.