Combination of Shake Table Experiments and Computer Simulation to Enhance Structural Engineering Curriculum in Earthquake Engineering

This paper describes the new components incorporated to the Structural and Earthquake Engineering curriculum to help students learn about earthquake engineering principles and seismic resistant design of structures.For undergraduate students, structural dynamics and earthquake engineering are difficult subjects for them to fully understand, and most of students find it too theoretical.Hands-on experiential learning through shake table experiments improves students' understanding on these subjects, as the key concepts in Earthquake Engineering can clearly be portrayed through shake table experiments.Students investigate the validity of computer models by comparing the predictions with shake table experimental results.Such comparisons help students recognize the value of modeling and simulation and thus, become motivated to learn the theory and build up their analytical skills.Through such experiences, theory becomes valuable to them and the hands-on experiential experience adds depth to theoretical understanding.The assessments by the department industry advisory board and practicing engineers showed that the senior projects in the area of earthquake engineering are rigorous in the technical contents and that the students demonstrated their knowledge on the dynamic response of structures such as buildings and bridges to dynamic loads.The integration of such components to structural engineering education promotes students' interest in the subject area and motivates them to stay in the field and earn their BSCE degree.