‘Earthquake’ simulation for world-famous buildings

Students from Departments of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Izmir University of Economics (IUE) conducted earthquake simulations by examining 50 iconic structures from Izmir and around the world through scaled models. The students created 3D measurements of buildings such as Konak Mosque, Hilton Hotel, and the Turkish Grain Board building in Izmir, as well as international landmarks like the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, and Transamerica Pyramid in the United States, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and Taipei 101 in Taiwan. They designed ‘shaking tables’ beneath their models to demonstrate how these structures would behave during an earthquake. By putting their theoretical knowledge into practice, the students tested the real impact of earthquakes on their building models and received great acclaim for their successful work.

A total of 90 students from IUE Department of Civil Engineering and Department of Architecture s completed these projects in about three months as part of their courses ‘Engineering Mechanics II: Dynamics’ and ‘Dynamics and Structural Analysis’. Approaching the project with the diligence of professional engineers and architects, IUE students compiled their observations into reports and presented them to their instructors. The students’ work was exhibited in a special on-campus event. Visitors had the opportunity to directly observe how different structural systems respond to earthquakes.

“THEIR COMPETENCIES IMPROVED”

Prof. Dr. Gökhan Kılıç, faculty member of IUE Department of Civil Engineering, stated that the project helped students improve their design skills both from engineering and architectural perspectives. Emphasizing the importance of such hands-on applications in education, especially given Turkey’s seismic risks, Prof. Dr. Kılıç said, “As a country, we shouldn’t just talk about earthquakes; we must also confront how prepared we really are. Sadly, past tragic experiences have shown how structural deficiencies can lead to enormous losses. Therefore we must provide prospective engineers and architects with strong education and instill this awareness in them. The work done in this project is incredibly valuable for developing such awareness.”

“THEY TURNED THEORY INTO PRACTICE”

Stating that students were able to experience how structural systems behave, their weak points, and material responses through this Project, Prof. Dr. Kılıç said, “We are training them not just as students, but as future professionals who will be directly responsible for people’s safety. Knowledge gained from books only becomes meaningful when applied. Our students analyzed iconic buildings from around the world from both architectural and engineering viewpoints. They brought real-world seismic scenarios into the lab for observation. This experience advanced not only their technical skills but also their analytical thinking, interpretation, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities.”

EMPHASIS ON ‘SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY’

As an educator, Prof. Dr. Kılıç underlined that their duty is not only to transfer knowledge but also to raise individuals who think critically, question, and generate solutions. Prof. Dr. Kılıç continued as follows: “Raising awareness on a vital issue like earthquakes helps young people see their professions not just as jobs, but also as social responsibilities. With this mindset, we continue to take strong steps toward a safer future for our country as a University. I also congratulate our students for the effort and contributions they made to this project.”