ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report

This project report is about the design tasks, background research, possible solutions, final design solution, analysis and results, and individual contributions to the group for ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems course.

Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology
ENG10004
Digital and Data Systems
Project Report
Student Name:
Student ID:
Date:

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Self-Assessment Details
The following table provides my self-assessment for my individual contributions to the project.
Few
(0-49)
Minor
(50-59)
Important
(60-69)
Major
(70-79)
Major
&Leadership
(80-100)
Self-
Assessment
(please tick)     
Declaration
I declare that this report is my individual work. I have not copied from any other student’s work
or from any other source except where due acknowledgment is made explicitly in the text, nor
has any part of this submission been written for me by another person.
Signature:
Student name (ID) 1
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ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Design Tasks Details
1. Project tasks
 Describe your tasks in the group project
 Your design problem and requirements
2. Background research
 Knowledge needed
 Possible solutions to your problem
3. Final design solution
 Justify for final design decision made
 Analysis and results (e.g., drawing, flowchart, experimental graphs)
4. Conclusion and recommendation
 Conclude your achievement
 Recommend how you could further improve your results
5. Contributions to the group
 State how your efforts contribute to the whole group
 State how you involve in the teamwork environment
6. References
7. Appendices (optional)
Student name (ID) 2

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Reflective Journal
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
 Reflection on my learning experience (Answer the following questions)
1) What are the most important things you learnt from this project?
2) Did you meet your project goals?
3) What parts of the project do you particularly like? Why?
4) What do you find particularly challenging?
5) What are the things that helped you most in this project?
6) One thing I would like to improve upon is?
Student name (ID) 3

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Design Tasks Details
Project Tasks
Task Description in Group Project
Group project task entailed different activities to help design a porotype of a
building that will withstand earthquakes. The task adopted design steps of an
Engineering Design process in developing a tower of balsa wood and strings by using
other supplied material namely a motor Driver- x1, Accelerometer x2, sandbags, DC-
Motor x1, battery pack x1, charger x1 and a container x1. The group was required to
come up with a plan of a building and use the supplied materials to develop a building
structure that meets the features of withstanding an earthquake of a given frequency
level. Initially, group members greened enough background information on building
designs to help come up with means of measuring, making and determining the scope
of the project and the requirements that were to help come up with a perfect porotype
of a building.
Subsequently, the group members embarked in the actualization of the project
plan having understood the sequence of projects activities, the roles of each group
member, activity time frame (schedule and actual network), possible project
uncertainties, and the scope and projects objectives. The first step in the project
execution plan was to set up a structure that met the tower specifications. The
specifications included ensuring that the base of the tower did not exceed 225cm2 and
it stood on a shake table, the strings were attached to the bottom of the platforms, and
an open-air deck on the top was created to help hold the sandbag. Inspections were
implemented at every stage to ensure that the tower was lightweight to help reduce the
Student name (ID) 4

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
number of material used. Note that, the above actualization process involved all group
members.
Moreover, each group member was to observe and supervise the action if not
directly involved. The participation was to help guide on any issue omitted during the
structuring of the tower. Consequential activities, namely measuring seismic waves
(vibrations) and the sustainability of the tower structure to different frequencies of the
waves were also included. A record was kept on each, and adjustable requirements
were made on the fabric to help realize the intended objective. Seismic waves were
measured after the group implemented, using the motor rotations, a way to generate
lethal movement on the shake table. The group members were to ensure the vibrations
were like a sinusoidal wave with the same frequency and amplitude above 500cm/s2of
25 cm, respectively. The final task was the presentation of the project, and it
demanded all members’ involvement and participation.
Design Problems and Requirements
The design problems involved meeting the specification in every project
phase. Initially, all group members had a better comprehension of the needs and
objectives of the project. But, it was a challenge to come up with a mechanism of
developing motor rotations that were to generate lethal movement on the tower
platform to resemble sinusoidal moves. Also, coding was challenging. These actions,
however, had initially demanded the considerations of the materials supplied and the
provided time frame as detailed in the initial project implementation phase. The
agreement was to set an amplitude of the waves at 2.0 cm and ensure the peak
accelerations close to 800 cm/s2. To the surprise of the members, the waves were far
beyond the sustainable ability of the first structure.
Student name (ID) 5

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
A readjustment was done on the wave frequency by setting the rotations of the
motor much lower to generate waves which a new structure that had high lightweight
than the initial construction will sustain. A sustainable frequency was set above
500cm/ s2 and below the initial frequency level of 600 cm /s2 that merged with the
lightweight value of the structure. Altering the rotation of the motor within such
small frequency gap provided a challenge noting that the lethal vibrations of the tower
at the deck and base were to be measured at several changes. However, the
requirements were met, and the peak accelerations of the shake table were set above
500cm/s2, and different measures of the loads were tested to help determine the
deformation level and supporting capabilities of the tower.
Background Research
Knowledge Needed
The critical knowledge needed to be the understanding of building convolution
and impregnable earthquake frequency. The platform of shake table, as set in the
project, showed lateral vibrations created on the land surface and the effect the
movement creates on building structures. Earthquake is an adversity that has caused
deaths due to lack of proper building structures that can withstand the land vibrations
created by seismic waves of a shock. The effect has affected the sparse population,
and it relates to more social economic issues (Laghi et al. 2017). The knowledge on
earthquake occurrence helped to ensure that the tower had adjustable abilities that
absorbs the vibrations without creating any harmful effect that will result in collapsing
of the tower due to the resulting strain of the wave.
The need in the background study required the understanding of the generation
of the earthquake frequency and the lateral movement on the land surface starting
Student name (ID) 6

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
from the epicenter of an earthquake to the stretching landscape affected by the seismic
waves. The group was needed to understand how such seismic waves shake the earth
service, their measures, and the relation to a building structure able to absorb the
vibrations without any harmful effect. The group had to know how to measure the
earthquake frequency and establish building structures that will sustain the earthquake
forces by regulating the sustainability ability and maximum load of a tower.
Understanding of the two issues was to help come up with a better structure that will
absorb the earthquake effects which needed another detailed research on the creative
building designs with adjustable abilities such as base isolations
Possible Solutions to the problem
The solution to the problem was to come up with an earthquake proof tower.
Background research provided different options on how to come up with such a tower.
The group learned on tuned mass dampers that reduced the swaying of the building.
More detailed research was done on base isolation strategy, which was applied in
developing the prototype. Base isolation system proved as one of the technique to
reduce the effects of an earthquake on building structures. The system included a
collection of structures that decouple a building structure from its resetting on a
shaking ground. The solutions proved significant since it increased the seismic
performance and sustainability of the tower considerably. However, there were other
more provided solutions such as including shock absorbers to the building to help the
tower remain relatively motionless virtual to the ground.
Final Design Solution
Justification of Final Design Decision
Student name (ID) 7

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
The final design decision involved building a tower and isolating it from the
land surface(base platform). The group agreed on a base isolation system to provide
better building adjustable abilities. During an earthquake, as expressed in the porotype
development, base isolations help the building move more relative to the ground and
thus requires the creation of space between the architecture and the surrounding
landscape. It was noted that when all the utilities and connection to the building are
relatively flexible, they help the structure remain stable during an earthquake. The
movement frequency is, however, relative to the earthquake frequency on the surface
of the land. A tower can sustain the ground movement by moving a little or remaining
standstill during an earthquake.
Analysis and Results
The base tower area was exactly 225cm2, and it was set on a shake table with
strings attaching the base into the platform. The upper tower was created where
different sandbags were placed to include the live mass of the building. The rotating
of the motor resulted in sinusoidal waves with an amplitude of 2.9cm that kept
increasing and a resulting peak acceleration rate ranged from 500cm/s2to 600cm/s2.
(Measured by the accelerator sensors).
Tower Building Image
Student name (ID) 8

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Observation on the shake table, the Change of live loads and resulting tower Impact
Sand Bag Weight 2lbs 5lbs 8lbs 11lbs 14lbs
Acceleration at the
deck of the tower
(cm/s2)
510cm/s2 521cm/s2 532cm/s2 540cm/s2 565cm/s2
Acceleration rate at the
base of the tower
507
cm/s2
516 cm/s2 521 cm/s2 532 cm/s2 551 cm/s2
Building effect stable stable Slight
movement/
no effect on
attached
utilities
Slight
movement/
little effect on
the attached
utilities
Greater
movement/
effect on
utilities nut
stable
The deformation level of the tower with zero movements was determined as
follows
Student name (ID) 9

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
PI1= Max (ǀAdeck- Abase ǀ)
= (521-516)
= 5 cm/s2
The deformation level of the tower with slight movement but no harmful
effect on the build was assessed at 14 cm/s2 (565-551) cm/s2). The tower supporting
capability was calculated as follows;
(The total mass of the tower was 35lbs, and the maximum mass placed on the
tower was 14 lbs)
PI2= MLoad /MTower
= (14/ 35)
= 0.4 lbs / 181.44grams
The tower was able to sustain the live load of 14lbs and remain stable at an
acceleration rate of 565cm/s2 at a and 552 cm/s2 at the deck and base of the tower
respectively. The decoupling of the tower allowed the tower to move with the shake
table frequency resulting in a minimal effect on the tower and the used utilities. At a
2lbs live load and low acceleration rate of 510 cm/s2 to 532cm/s2at the deck and base
of the tower were stable and had minimum effect on the utilities used. The space
between the shake table and the base area of the tower allow the tower to remain
stable even with the increased wave frequency and live load. However, the increase
in acceleration level led to a slight movement of the tower. The maximum live load
with a zero tower movement effect was14lbs with an acceleration rate of 521 cm/s2
and 516 cm/s2 at the deck and base of the tower respectively.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Student name (ID) 10

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Conclusion
The base isolation method proved capable of handling the effects of
earthquakes on building structures. If a building is built with flexible utilities and
enough space created on the building base and the surrounding group, the building
will slightly move or remain stagnant depending on earthquake frequency generated
from seismic waves. However, the stability of the structure depends on its location as
determined by the epicenter, the earthquake forces and spread of the impacts by
seismic waves (Primary, secondary and surface waves). The surface movement will
create a movement effect on the building, and if the building utilities used are flexible,
the building will move relative to the ground movement and remain guileless to the
earthquake effect. Therefore, an architectural building plan using base isolation
system can sustain the impact of an earthquake.
Recommendation
As determined in the project results, it is recommended a further study on
base isolation system and the relativity of the system to provide pure indemnity on
zero earthquake impacts on a building irrespective of any earthquake magnitude.
Establishing the extent of tower movement may depend on the base isolators, base
isolation, and the flexibility of the building utilities. However, there is still a limit of
building movement if an earthquake of higher frequency causes unstoppable seismic
waves with detrimental ground movement beyond building movement capability. The
effect may also depend on the maximum load (Live and dead load of the Building) at
the time of the earthquake. The assumptions may be applied vice versa.
It is also recommended for continual research on more possible solutions,
besides the base isolation technique, that will guarantee zero effect on building,
Student name (ID) 11

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
especially sky crappers during an earthquake of any magnitude. The answers will help
make a recommendation on the base isolation system, use of shock absorbers, use of
flexible building utilities, and tuned mass dampers. The search should include a
bigger group to help share knowledge, create more creative ways to make a
comparison between different solutions better to solve the detrimental effects of
earthquakes on buildings.
Individual Contributions to the Group
How my Efforts contributed to the whole Group project Activity
I did a rigorous background study on the group project and the development of
a project schedule that helped my group come up with a better project plan. I was
also involved in the plan execution, where I developed the tower structure as detailed
in the plan and project requirements. As a person, I know how to relate with people,
and I can steer group thinking to reach out a possible solution to any challenge. In my
group, we met potential problems that led to the slack of other project activities, but I
kept on ensuring that we worked to meet the activity deadline and abode by the
project leader instruction. My involvement also helped my group maintain the spirit
of work and, thus enabling us to work as a group throughout the project duration. I
worked cordially to oversee how we executed each project activity and also shared
my views on what improvement should be done, thus increasing group creativity in
the project execution process.
How I involve in the Teamwork Environment
I first sought to understand the other group member and the project task at
hand to help me comprehend on the level of participation am required to offer. I also
thought of possible challenges that were to result in disharmonies such as poor
Student name (ID) 12

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
timekeeping, fellow member lethargy, and group disputes that would have affected
our group activities. I tried to adjust to meet the requirements of the group and as well
as be prepared for any challenges emanating from group member differences. I asked
for possible ways on how to ensure my other group member also understood his group
roles and as well as kept my line of duty to avoid any role crash that was to result in
group wrangles. Later on, I adjusted and conformed to the teamwork environment,
and it was very fruitful.
Student name (ID) 13

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
References
Laghi, V., Palermo, M., Trombetti, T. & Schildkamp, M., 2017. Seismic-proof
buildings in developing countries. Frontiers in the built environment, 3(49), p.
6.
Student name (ID) 14

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Reflective Journal
Week 3
Week three was the first week, and we were only two members. We decided
to choose the earthquake resistant project and held a meeting to discuss our
membership. We also agreed as a group to look for more group members. We were
unable to get one, and we only remained two members in a group but with different
ideologies on the way to implement our project. We signed the agreement paper
provided by our tutor to show that we had already formed a group. We decided on
the hour of meeting in the same week. We met at 1300hrs, the fourth day, and held
the first official group meeting. We thought on different project requirement for an
hour and discussed the way forward. During the meeting, we realized that we shared
various ideas and conflicting timelines and decided one of us to be the project leader.
The other group member took the role and derived a project schedule (based on our
weekly studies and tasks) that included the meeting times, the projects activity to be
performed and each member task in every project execution period. In one hour, we
were able to identify areas that needed further research and assigned ourselves to
different areas to do new research. Some of the fields were already studied, such as
2D plots and global variables. We set group rules and dispersed after a 3-hour
meeting with an agreement to meet the following week at the exact hour indicated in
the project plan.
Assigned project roles and activities
Member 1( Other group
Member)
Member 2( Me) Group
Student name (ID) 15

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Background research( Use
of other software;
NIMyDAQ)
Background Research(coding) Background Research( Other
issues)
Shake table construction Calculations on findings Project execution (Model
Construction, Coding, tower
constriction)
PPT development Search on design ideas Supervision on project
activities.
Project timeline
development (Schedule,
meeting hours and
activities)
Coordination and overall
supervision
Discussions on findings
Week 4
Week four was our second week, and each member came with a report on
further research on 2D plots and new issues that were to help in the study. I
researched NIMyDAQ and how to connect it to our Pcs. Luckily, the tutor expounded
more on the same and provided further details on the use of other project materials
such as the Motor drive. We performed different class activities during class time,
including answering question tasks. We meet as provided in our project plan, and
we agreed that we had a better comprehension of the issue to help us start thinking of
the ways to implement our project design. My group member had researched on
coding, which I had no comprehension of how it worked. The teacher had not thought
on the same, so we had to discuss in 30 minutes on how we will use coding to come
Student name (ID) 16

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
up with a better project. We had to review after a 1-hour discussion to keep intact our
project schedule plan.
Week 5
In week five, we meet as detailed in the project plan at 1300hrs of the third
day. We gathered all the supplied materials and started to build a shake table. We
ensured that we observed the requirements as provided in the project requirement
descriptions. One of the issues was to ensure that the shake table formed had enough
surface to attach the strings to the base of a tower. During this period, we discussed
on different aspects on how the shake table will create a base for the tower, that is, a
platform that will be controlled by the supplier motor to simulate the ground
displacement when the vibration occurred. We had issues on how to come up with a
design mechanism of a shake table that will transmit the motor rotations into lateral
movements on the platform. We were unable to come up with one best design,
although we had ideas. We agreed to do more research and realized that it was into
the project too much until we had not solved our relationship issues. We decided to go
for a walk and share a coffee as we discussed other matters out of the project. We left
each at 2000hrs and reminded ourselves to come up with a solution in the following
week's meeting.
Week 6
The group meeting was scheduled in the late hours of the day. We meet, and
we were ready to start the activity of the day. We agreed on the design that had had
issues in the previous meeting. We had done intensive research. We decided that we
should finish the activity of the day as provided in the project schedule. We
developed a presentation and divided into two parts. Part one included the search for
Student name (ID) 17

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
possible solutions on the identified problem of the project. Part two noted on the
progress of the project and the shortcomings in the plans. We realized that we were
slightly behind the schedule since we had not completed our shake table. We did
group research on different possible ways to build a tower that was to help reduce the
earthquake effect. One member was assigned to finish up making the shake table and
the other to start building a tower using the materials. We were to meet on the next
period with a complete shake table and report on comprehensive research on the
possible solutions to solve the project needs and a partly build tower
Shake table building
Week 7
We met at 1300 hrs and had already a partly developed tower and a shake
table. We both ensured that the shake table was as provided in the project description
and found out that it had some issues on its composition. We did a readjustment to
make it fit the project description. As a group, we had gathered enough information
on possible solutions for coming up with a tower that will withstand earthquakes. We
selected a base isolation system to help us attach a complete tower to the platform
created on the shake table. We weighed through other options and realized that the
choice was applicable using the materials provided. We thought on how to set the
Student name (ID) 18

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
tower and make the base isolation. We completed the tower, made some few
suggestions on how to create base isolation sous to suspend the tower free from the
ground surface effects. We agreed to use the strings and set the separation. We were
successful in coming up with a lightweight tower attached to the platform of the shake
table and still create the isolation. We met a presentation having set ready a complete
shake table and a tower.
Week 8
Week 8 meeting was held in the afternoon 1400hrs. We met and discussed
how far we had moved in the project and realized that it was on schedule. We tried
out to attach the motor to the shake table and set a frequency as high as 700 cm/s2. To
our surprise, the tower did not sustain the spectrum, and it seemed to week even with
placing a 2lbs sandbag on its deck. We had to restructure out tower and make it have
more weight. We choose to use a more balsa wood to increase its height from 50 cm
to 70 cm long. Still, we made sure we maintained a lightweight and used limited
supplies. We had ensured the shake table had the required lightweight, and this
provided the extra material to extend the height of the tower. We also decide to set
the frequency lower. The time was not on our side, and we did not test the new tower.
We left and decided to continue with the project activity in the following meeting.
Improved tower
Student name (ID) 19

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Week 9
In this week, we met at 1500hrs. Before ascribing the tower, we noted that our
shake table needed some adjustments. We discussed how to make it more admirable
and useful. Since we had a coinciding class, we met for 30 minutes and rescheduled
the meeting to be after class at 1800hrs and also sought to inquire from the tutor on
how to improve the shake table. During Class, the tutor noted that most groups had
poorly developed their shake tables. The tutor provided more insights on how to
improve our shake tables. After class, we met and made some adjustments on the
shake table and realized that it met the requirement as provided in class discussion.
We also learned how to attach the structure using base isolators (strings) to decouple
the tower from the platform created on the shake table. We successfully connected
the structure and created a space on the tower base from the surrounding platform
surface. We then went through the adjustments done and left to our places since we
were already past time.
Student name (ID) 20

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Week 10
We met at 1000hrs as provided in our projects schedule. We checked on the
tower structure and the attachment to the platform. We then ensured that the open air
at the deck was strong to hold the sandbag weight. We tested the towering strength
by placing a sand weight of 25lbs. We noted that it was more robust compared to the
initially unimproved tower structure. We were now ready to use the motor, set it to
rotate to create different wave frequencies to result in different vibrations at the tower.
We then realized that the shake table was not stable, and it needs more adjustment and
improvement. We applied towers to support the table and also made some
adjustments to improve its surface. We had to leave since I had an urgent class to
check on other family issues. But before leaving, we ensured that the shake table met
the requirements and was of admirable appeal. We also ensured that the tower
structure was aesthetically pleasing by tethering the joints to remain strong
Week 11
In this week we meet at 1600hrs. We went through our coding and tried to
combine the two, and they partly matched. We tested the tower under different
vibration by changing the motor rotation. We ensure that the quake caused
acceleration above the 500 cm/s2, and it was sustainable with the tower built strength.
We recorded the wave at the base and deck of the tower and noted the effect created
on the tower utilities (sandbag and woods). However, cording was not useful to
provide the exact measure of the acceleration designed, but we were able to do the
math and measure the change of mass of the sandbag, the acceleration of the tower at
the deck and base and the effects on the tower. We were partly satisfied with the
result and decided to form the final touches in our last meeting
Student name (ID) 21

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Week 12
In this week, we met the last time and discussed all activities performed
during the project execution period. We noted on our inabilities coming up with
codes and also other math challenges of determining other measures to show the
result of the projects. However, we were ready to meet our tutor to present our final
design and as well ask for the review of our projects. We return all the material
supplied.
Student name (ID) 22

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Reflection on the Learning experience
1) What are the most important things you learned from this project?
 Coding and input of analog data using NIMmyDAQ
 Developing a prototype of a structure and how to apply engineering principles
 Math calculations on building a structure as related to developing earthquake-
proof buildings
 Project executions and management skills
 Group learning and participation in a teamwork environment
2) Did you meet your project goals?
Yes, we were able to develop a tower, build a shake table and as well as come up
with a final structure as provided by the project objective within the stipulated
project timeline
3) What parts of the project do you particularly like? Why?
I liked initial project planning and the project plan execution parts.
I liked project planning since it includes much teaching and reasoning and as well
eased the execution phases of the projects. Project plan execution timeline was fun as
I develop a shake table, a tower, checked on the requirement and made some
adjustments.
4) What do you find particularly challenging?
Developing a shake table and coding were the most challenging tasks
5) What are the things that helped you the most in this project?
Student name (ID) 23

ENG10004 Digital and Data Systems – Project Report
Doing extensive research and seeking for clarification was helpful. Also, teamwork
spirit helped a lot
6) One thing I would like to improve upon is?
Meeting projects schedule
Sluggishness sometime led o the delay of other project activities.
Student name (ID) 24