BUILDING A UNIDIRECTIONAL SHAKE TABLE FROM SCRATCH

Nepal, which lies under the Indian and Tibetan tectonic plates, is a seismically active regioncontinuously facing a high risk of life and structural damage. In this context, the development oflow-cost unidirectional shake tables is very important for research on the improvement ofseismic resilience structure and promoting earthquake engineering. The shake table simulates theone-directional (horizontal) motion of the ground during a seismic activity. Using cost-effectiveprocedures and locally available material, the fabrication of a unidirectional shake table will playa vital role in research on the improvement of seismic-resistant structures. The designed shaketable is driven by a mechanical actuator and is operated under variable speed showcasingdifferent frequencies of ground motion. The simple crank-slider mechanism is used to convertthe circular motion of the actuator into the linear motion of the platform of the unidirectionalshake table. This article covers design consideration, material selection, mechanical design andconstruction, assembly instructions, and future upgrade potential, of a unidirectional shake tableshowcasing the shake table's contribution to earthquake precautions.