Strange earthquake-proof tower with toothpicks in Japan

A technical university in Japan is famous for its unique contest to build earthquake-resistant toothpick towers.  

Due to its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where there is continuous seismic and volcanic activity, Japan is the most earthquake-prone country in the world and suffers from devastating earthquakes.

The toothpick towers must be at least 50 cm tall and weigh less than 65 grams.

In its history, the country of the rising sun has experienced hundreds of earthquakes and tsunamis that occurred right next to the Pacific Ocean. About 71% of the world's most powerful earthquakes occur in the Ring of Fire.

Although Japan occupies only 0.25% of the Earth's land area, 18.5% of the world's earthquakes occur here, 20% of the magnitude 6.0 earthquakes and above. up happening in the world is in Japan.

Therefore, building earthquake-resistant architecture is important for the country of Japan. To withstand the extreme forces of an earthquake, a building must absorb as much seismic energy as possible. A structure that can absorb all the energy from an earthquake, it won't collapse.

To achieve the goal of finding new creativity, an engineering school created a competition for students to find a toothpick tower design that can withstand earthquakes.

Since 2006, the Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Sojo University has held an annual "Tower Seismic Contest", challenging student teams to build earthquake-resistant towers using only toothpicks and glue. wood.

The toothpick towers must be at least 50 cm tall and weigh less than 65 grams. They are glued to the respective wood panels so that they do not slide off when the base starts to vibrate.

Each team's earthquake-resistant tower rests on a 30cm long wooden plank and increasing weight metal blocks are added on top of the tower. The pedestal below begins to shake, simulating an earthquake. As the oscillations increased, the tower began to topple over. The team with the last tower standing will be the winner.

The toothpick competition has been a hit since its inception, and since 2011, Sojo University has also organized a competition between high school student teams with the aim of raising the interest of high school students. in the manufacture and design of earthquake resistant structures.