In an attempt to better understand earthquakes and how they affect structures, UC San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering, along with engineers from the University of Texas at Austin and Washington State University, built and tested a revolutionary hydraulic-powered shake table to subject a three-story masonry structure to simulated earthquakes.

Results have vindicated modern building codes and highlighted the importance of retrofitting older buildings.

More than three weeks of groundbreaking testing, which saw the structure sustain less damage than anticipated, will come to an end on Feb. 7. The project was mainly funded by a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act program.