NCREE Hosts Seismic Model Competition with 94 Teams Testing Structural and Damping Designs

The National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) hosted the International Earthquake Engineering Model Competition on November 6, 2026, bringing together 94 teams and over 400 students from Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, India, and Southeast Asia. Participants built earthquake-resistant structural models using limited materials such as wood strips and hot melt glue. High school and undergraduate teams loaded models with 7.2 kilograms of weights for load and shake-table simulation tests, evaluated based on seismic performance versus material weight. Graduate teams were tasked with integrating custom isolation or damping systems while optimizing practicality and cost. NCREE Director Yu-Chen Ou noted that older buildings unable to meet modern seismic codes can utilize retrofitting alongside reconstruction, emphasizing the competition's role in advancing technical exchange and engineering readiness.

Key takeaways

• The competition gathered 94 teams and over 400 students globally to construct earthquake-resistant models under material constraints.
• High school and undergraduate entries required 7.2 kg load testing and shake-table trials, while graduate divisions evaluated custom isolation and damping designs.
• NCREE highlighted the importance of seismic retrofitting for older buildings alongside international knowledge exchange in earthquake engineering.