Study of Earthquake-Resisting Buildings Using Shake Table and Magnetic Levitation

Abstract

Earthquakes are one of the most dangerous natural disasters. They can cause buildings to collapse, leading to loss of life and property. Every year, thousands of earthquakes occur worldwide, and some of them are extremely destructive. Constructions intended to withstand earthquakes are known as earthquakeresistant structures.This project is based on the study of earthquake resisting buildings using the shake table concept and magnetic levitation. The main aim of this model is to show how buildings react during an earthquake and how proper techniques can reduce damage. Two different setups are made. In the first setup, two building models are mounted on a shake table. One building is fixed, and the other is supported on steel springs to absorb vibrations. A DC motor, connected through an ice-cream stick mechanism and a battery, is used to create vibrations similar to an earthquake. LED lights are installed inside the building for visualization. The second setup is based on magnetic levitation, where repelling magnets are used to create a gap and reduce the transmission of vibrations. This project helps in understanding how damping and isolation systems can protect buildings from earthquakes.

Introduction

Earthquakes cause sudden ground vibrations due to the release of energy in the Earth’s crust, which can severely damage buildings. Since advanced earthquake-resistant techniques are often costly, this project focuses on simple, low-cost methods to reduce earthquake effects using base isolation concepts. A small experimental model was developed using a shake table to study how different base systems affect building stability during vibrations.

Two main techniques were demonstrated: spring-based base isolation and magnetic levitation. In the shake table model, one house was fixed directly to the base while another was placed on springs. The spring-supported structure showed reduced vibrations as the springs absorbed and dissipated energy. In the magnetic levitation model, repelling magnets created a non-contact base, further minimizing vibration transfer.

Experiments compared three models—fixed base, spring base, and magnetic levitation base—under identical shaking conditions. Observations showed that the fixed-base model experienced the highest vibrations, the spring-base model showed moderate vibrations, and the magnetic levitation model exhibited the least vibration and highest stability. Results also indicated that higher vibration speed led to greater structural displacement.

Conclusion

Overall, the project proves that flexible or non-contact base isolation systems significantly reduce earthquake-induced vibrations. The study provides a clear, practical demonstration of earthquake-resistant design principles and highlights future scope for improvement using sensors, simulations, advanced materials, automation, and educational applications.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Dr. Satish Kene , Ms. Bhumi Kasar , Mr. Shivam Jajulwar , Ms. Ashmi Meshram , Mr. Dhananjay Jadhao, Mr. Krish Thete. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.