This January, CEE graduate research assistant Prashanna Mishra and Professor John van de Lindt participated in the second phase of the NSF-funded Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) Converging Design project. This phase tested the structural integrity of a full-scale six-story timber building using a shake-table to simulate earthquake level force at the University of California San Diego test facility.
Mishra is pursuing a graduate degree in structural engineering from CSU, and shared the impact of this experience.
“Coming from Nepal, a country still in recovery from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015, I witnessed people lose their homes within seconds, allowing me a deep understanding of the crucial role engineering plays in safeguarding communities from natural disasters,” said Mishra.
“I have been fortunate to work with Dr. John van de Lindt, who has involved me in the day-to-day process of projects like the NHERI Tallwood and NHERI Converging Design. While these projects have given me the opportunity to witness live-shaking of these test buildings, I have also developed skills through my work building, instrumenting, and testing of these specimens.”
“The project was the perfect opportunity for me to make an impact on something important to me. I continue to be interested in learning, working, and growing in the field of earthquake engineering. Projects like the ones I have been involved in provide real data on buildings that allow us to safely predict how our communities will respond during a devastating earthquake.”
