Structural Mechanics Project Lead
Engineers for a Sustainable World
Chavin de Huantar, Chavin, Peru
January 2019 - August 2019
As a project lead in the Stanford branch of Engineers for a Sustainable World, our team partnered with the Stanford Archaeology Department and Peruvian Ministry of Culture to design and construct modular tensile roofing structures over excavation sites at the Chavin de Huantar UNESCO heritage site.
The active archaeology site at Chavin is exposed to heavy rains, experiencing annual flooding that damages the sub-surface excavations. I was a mechanical engineering lead among the team of 12 engineering students to create a modular tensile roofing structure from extremely limited materials available in the Chavin local village. This included basic steel stock, wet wood logs, concrete, rope, and tarp. Our team utilized 3D printing, MIG welding, and woodworking processes to create an 8’x8’ roof module that cost less than $20 per module. The tensile tarp covering can be raised or lowered depending on the active status of the particular excavation area. We also attached an aqueduct system to drain the rainwater toward a natural river nearby the site.
As part of the team traveled to Peru to build the roofing structures, I directed the prototype testing under representatives from the Peruvian Ministry of Culture. I designed procedures for structural loading, deflection in cases of high wind speeds, and sensors testing for rain resistance and light permeability. We combined FEA simulations with the physical experiments to validate the strength of material connections.
*Project is still active and many technical details are protected by wishes of UNESCO and the Peruvian Ministry of Culture.