‘Earthquake’ Simulation Conducted on 22 World-Famous Structures
Students from the Departments of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Izmir University of Economics (IUE) carried out earthquake simulations by examining scaled models of 22 world-famous structures. By creating three-dimensional replicas of renowned landmarks such as Tokyo Skytree in Japan, Taipei 101 in Taiwan, Burj Al Arab in Dubai, and the Golden Gate Bridge, Willis Tower, Empire State Building, and Transamerica Pyramid in the United States, the students were able to test how these structures might behave during an earthquake. They also added a ‘shaking table’ beneath the models to simulate seismic activity.
A total of 67 students from IUE’s Civil Engineering and Architecture Departments completed the projects over approximately three months as part of the courses ‘Engineering Mechanics II: Dynamics’ and ‘Dynamics and Structural Analysis’. Working like professional engineers and architects, the students carefully analyzed the buildings and presented their findings to faculty members in detailed reports.
EXHIBITED ON CAMPUS
The students’ projects were displayed in the Multi-Purpose Hall of Block D on campus. Visitors to the exhibition had the opportunity to observe how different structural systems respond to earthquake forces. The students received significant praise for their successful work.
“WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE”
Prof. Dr. Gökhan Kılıç, Director of the IUE Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Research and Application Center (EKOAYRA) and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, stated that creating disaster-resilient cities and safe structures is among the most critical responsibilities for the future. Emphasizing the importance of teaching students about earthquake realities through scientific, technical, and practical perspectives, Prof. Dr. Kılıç said, “In this project, our students examined iconic structures from different countries that are recognized for their engineering or architectural significance. Through scaled models, they reanalyzed structures ranging from Tokyo Skytree and Taipei 101 to Burj Al Arab and the Golden Gate Bridge. During this process, they evaluated the buildings’ forms, heights, structural systems, mass distributions, and potential behavior under earthquake effects.”
“IT PROVIDES LASTING LEARNING”
Prof. Dr. Kılıç continued as follows: “This project was extremely valuable in helping our students transform the theoretical knowledge they acquired in class into a tangible application. In engineering education, formulas, calculations, and analytical methods are certainly important; however, the ability to relate this knowledge to a real structural problem creates much more lasting professional learning. For architecture students, it is equally important to understand that a building should be evaluated not only for its aesthetic, spatial, or symbolic qualities, but also in terms of safety, durability, materials, structural systems, and resilience against disasters. Raising awareness among young people about a life-critical issue such as earthquakes will directly contribute to the development of safer buildings and more resilient cities in the future.”
“WE ARE EDUCATING KNOWLEDGEABLE AND WELL-PREPARED YOUNG PEOPLE”
Congratulating the students on their dedication, research discipline, and creativity, Prof. Dr. Kılıç said, “As Izmir University of Economics, our goal is to educate knowledgeable and responsible young people who can connect scientific knowledge with practical applications, possess strong problem-solving skills, and take responsibility for reducing disaster risks. This project is an excellent example of that goal. It was also important that these projects, representing approximately two months of intensive work, were exhibited on our campus. Visitors were able to observe the behavior of different structural systems during earthquakes and gain a concrete experience related to disaster awareness.”
