OU Professor Participating In Seismic Testing

Now that Oklahoma has become a hot spot for seismic activity, an OU researcher is on a mission to make buildings earthquake resistant.

So Amy Cerato, a civil engineering professor, is at the most powerful shake table in the United States.

Under the 15-foot tall box full of sand, is a mechanical earthquake of sorts with a 40 million pound payload in San Diego, Calif.

Next week, she'll start her experiment to see how foundations made of steel helical piles hold up.

“Think of them as soil screws. So you put these soil screws in the ground and you build your house right on top of those soil screws so no concrete and then when the earthquake happens, it shakes those piles and they dampen the earthquake motion,” she told News 9.

The six-week long test will simulate the weight of a building on top of the foundation piles, and see how they react to shaking up to 8.5 magnitude. It's data engineers in the U.S. have never had their hands on before.

And Cerato hopes this new information will help protect homes and people from the ever-increasing earthquake threat.

Visit here to read her blog. And also check out her live stream.