The Giant Magellan Telescope is the first to pass the earthquake safety test> ENGINEERING.com

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the first to pass the seismic safety test Posted by Joshua Sadlock on December 31, 2020 | An innovative seismic isolation system revolutionized the design of the observatory in seismic regions.

Giant Magellan Telescope. (Image provided by GMTO Corporation.)

For decades, the Atacama Desert has astonished astronomers and structural engineers alike. With soaring mountain peaks and a clear night sky, the Chilean desert is one of the best places in the world to study the universe. There are more than 300 clear nights a year in Atacama, making it unmatched for the stars. Unfortunately, Chile also has a very active seismic belt around the Pacific Ocean, also known as the “Ring of Fire,” where 81 percent of earthquakes occur in the world, including the Chilean M9.5 earthquake of 1960, the largest earthquake of the century.

The Atacama Desert in Chile. The area most identified as yellow Atacama on the map. In orange, the distant arid regions are found in southern Chala, Atiplano, Bona de Atacama and Norte Chico. (Image via Wikipedia.)

Building an observatory is a challenge even on a more stable basis. The devices and systems that drive modern telescopes have become so complex and complex that they must be constantly monitored and protected from vibrations and any other interference with their movement and stability. This makes building large telescopes impossible in seismic regions.

All that changes with the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope in Las Campanas. With more than $ 500 million raised to build a revolutionary 22-story telescope at an altitude of 8,200 feet, GMTO Corporation has set out to demonstrate that it is possible to build a sophisticated telescope in an earthquake-prone region.

Even a slight jolt can cause significant damage to the Giant Magellan Telescope and its seven huge mirrors, leaving it idle for months and incurring major repair costs. The moving parts and mirrors that allow the telescope to function must be able to withstand every vibration and jolt of the earthquake. The challenge is not so much to prevent the 13.6 million pounds of machine from collapsing in an earthquake, but rather to limit the motions and forces transmitted to the telescope by means of a seismic event.

To mitigate the effects of earthquakes and vibrations, the engineers who designed the observatory created an innovative seismic isolation system to protect their telescope. The seismic isolation system is designed to allow the telescope to return to full functionality within hours to weeks after a seismic event and has a probability of failure of 0.5 percent over the observatory’s expected life of 50 years. This level of defense against earthquakes is unprecedented for a large telescope.

A section of the base of the telescope, the foundations of the dock, and the container show the seismic isolators. (Image provided by GMTO.)

GMT’s seismic isolation system works with two separate lines of defense – the same isolation system that supports and protects telescope instruments from ground motion and a re-interference system that will return the telescope to its upright and operational position in the event of a major earthquake that causes it to travel from its base. The dock re-centering system is a hydraulic system that can return the massive telescope to a fraction of an inch from its position before an earthquake.

This system is a huge breakthrough for the astronomical and engineering communities alike, making it possible to explore new horizons in space from one of the best locations on the planet. The highest score is obtained by independent review and testing of the system, which could pave the way for further expansion and construction of modern observatories. Space is our final frontier, and engineering marvels like the Giant Magellan Telescope will fuel the next century of exploration and discovery.

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