Optimizing structural stability of model buildings through the use of a biaxial acoustically driven shake table and the Taguchi method

Earthquakes are among the most dangerous natural disasters known to man. They strike without warning, destroying property, disrupting routine, and claiming lives. As of today, earthquakes cannot be predicted or prevented. This problem has brought about the need for earthquake simulation and experimentation. Shake tables are used to simulate earthquakes and to evaluate the structural stability of model buildings. However, modern-day desktop-size shake tables have notable limitations. First of all, modern-day shake tables can be very expensive, making earthquake experimentation unavailable to those with a modest budget. Also, many desktop-size shake tables cannot vibrate both horizontally and vertically, thus limiting the accuracy of earthquake simulation.