JOHOR BARU: Watching their carefully constructed model sway violently during an earthquake simulation was a nerve-racking experience for 20-year-old Thinesh Selvendran and his three teammates.
After months of calculations, design work and repeated testing, the team finally saw their efforts put to the ultimate test when their structure withstood the maximum 900-gal intensity at the 2026 International Earthquake Engineering Model Competition (Ideers 2026) in Taiwan recently.
Thinesh, who led the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) undergraduate team, said seeing the model withstand the intense vibrations was a defining moment.
“We knew what we had built and understood its potential.
“But surviving 900 gal, the maximum intensity in the competition, was a different story.
“Every calculation, every design decision and every hour we put into that model came down to those few seconds.
“And it delivered. That’s something I will forever be proud of,” he said here yesterday.
The team, guided by UTM Faculty of Civil Engineering senior lecturer Dr Nik Zainab Nik Azizan, was awarded the Quake-Resistant Certificate after successfully passing the 400-gal simulation at the competition.
Thinesh, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, said the team’s approach centred on achieving structural strength without compromising flexibility, with every component carefully selected to enhance the model’s ability to withstand seismic vibrations.
“We reinforced the main columns with double sticks, kept the beams single to avoid excessive stiffness, and introduced horizontal bracing to strengthen the cantilever and distribute loads.
“Rubber bands were incorporated to help absorb seismic vibrations. Every component had a purpose. Nothing was there by accident,” he said.
Arriving at the final design was not straightforward, as the team had to overcome challenges in translating engineering concepts into a structure capable of performing under extreme conditions.
Thinesh said some designs that appeared promising on paper failed during practical testing, forcing the students to refine their approach repeatedly.
He added that the experience taught them that engineering was not simply about coming up with the best idea, but also having the patience to improve it through repeated trials.
“Lectures teach you the theory. Engineering teaches you what happens when that theory meets reality.
“During testing, some of our biggest weaknesses came from workmanship errors rather than theoretical design.
“That’s a lesson you won’t find in a textbook,” he said.
The team, comprising Thinesh, Teh Rui Feng, Nur Hidayah Syafiqah Hamade and Kunaahl Nair Kamalahasan, divided responsibilities according to their strengths, taking charge of research, design, construction and documentation.
Thinesh said competing against 40 international institutions also exposed them to different engineering approaches, reinforcing the importance of complementing technical knowledge with creativity and effective communication.
The team finished 16th overall, making UTM the highest-ranked Malaysian university in its category.
UTM’s postgraduate-category team also performed strongly, finishing among the top six overall and securing three awards – Best Presentation, Design-Concept Exhibition and Aesthetic Architecture – bringing the university’s total haul to five awards.
