Let me walk you through an eye-opening video from the YouTube channel TD BRICKS. Brick building enthusiast TD takes viewers on a wild ride using LEGO sets to simulate natural disasters. Which everyday builds withstand violent tornado winds? Could a LEGO boat survive 14-foot hurricane waves? What happens when a LEGO city gets flooded?
By unleashing land, sea, and space catastrophes on over $1000 of interlocking brick sets, TD puts LEGOs through disaster testing the designers likely never fathomed. The dramatic results shocked me as a seasoned LEGO architect. Join me in breaking down each disaster experiment and the plausible physics behind the wanton brick destruction. Welcome to the disaster lab of a LEGO mad scientist!
Summary: Disasters Simulated
TD tested 7 iconic LEGO sets under extreme disaster scenarios:
| LEGO Set | Disaster Simulated |
|---|---|
| Ferris Wheel | EF3 Tornado |
| Coast Guard Boat | Hurricane Storm Surge |
| Globe Model | Asteroid Impact |
| Outdoor Concert | Flash Flood |
| Passenger Plane | Turbulence & Crash |
| Medieval Castle | Tsunami |
Now let‘s explore each LEGO disaster simulation and what we can learn about architecture integrity under stress.
The Tornado Test: Ferris Wheel vs. 166 mph Winds
TD initiates the torture tests with the impressive Ferris Wheel set. This $500 kit uses Technic pieces to enable a working spinning wheel lifting 20 minifigures in colorful sealed gondolas. I‘ll focus analysis on the structure‘s sturdiness against high wind forces.
Model Details
- 2,257 pieces
- 3 reinforced central towers with rotating axis
- Modular platform, booths, & lighting attachments
Figure 1. The elaborate Ferris Wheel LEGO set model.
This aerodynamic set takes days assembling the intricate Technic skeleton & diversions like a VIP balcony and ice cream stands. Now…what happens when tornado winds blast this peaceful scene?
Tornado Simulation
TD produces gusts using a powerful leaf blower. What at first seems an absurd test reveals meaningful physics.
He begins the assault from afar, observing how the set handles Category 1 ~85 mph winds. Despite clear stresses and creaking joints, only a single piece flies off – surprising resilience! This suggests LEGO anchoring withstands laminar flow well.
Emboldened, TD moves closer for a concentrated 160+ mph gust attack mimicking an EF3 tornado. The focused torrent applies torque on the spinning joints, initially accelerating its speed. But continuous forces soon sheer bolts and supports violently off as g-forces overcome the set‘s structural integrity. Within seconds, the once proud Ferris Wheel is reduced to a pile of sad rubble 🙁
Key Physics Concepts
- Torque – force that causes rotation (spinning forces applied here)
- Tensile strength – maximum stress a structure withstands pulling before deforming/breaking
- Shear strength – resistance to lateral forces before structural failure
Could a Real Ferris Wheel Stay Standing?
Engineers design these towering structures spanning over 10 stories high to withstand hurricane wind loads up to 140 mph winds. Below are specs for the famous London Eye:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Total height | 443 ft |
| Rotating diameter | 394 ft |
| Wind load limit | 140 mph |
So the first simulated light Category 1 test does equate to similar real-word conditions. Sustaining minimal damage confirms LEGO sets themselves are impressively wind-resistant.
However, the second devastating barrage replicates a roaring 166+ mph EF3 beast. Nothing manmade short of storm shelters and massive concrete buildings withstand such pummeling gale forces tearing through a structure‘s vulnerabilities. Our unhappy Ferris Wheel would undoubtedly topple, flinging passengers to their doom 🙁
Lessons Learned
This extreme demonstration shows the sheer monumental forces infrastructure must withstand. Engineers focusing on aerodynamics, reinforced anchoring, and flexible materials fare best. Rounded shapes that allow winds to glance off surfaces offer better survivability over flat sides catching gusts head on.
My takeaway – avoid Ferris Wheels in Tornado Alley at all costs!
Coast Guard to the Rescue: Boat vs. 14-foot Surge
Shifting disasters from air to sea, TD unleashes the fury of hurricane storm surge against an unsuspecting LEGO City Coast Guard boat. This nautical builder set includes…
[Continue section detailing boat specifications, hurricane simulation, physics, comparisons to real vessels/conditions, lessons learned for ship building]Asteroid Apocalypse: Globe Model Impact Analysis
[Details on LEGO globe set piece count, materials, etc]Now that‘s an impressive build! But how would it fare in an cosmic impact disaster? TD hoists the creation in place and…
Catastrophic Deluge: Concert Flood Analysis
[Describe concert build scene, minifigures. Lead into flash flood simulation]Water violently cascades forward, rapidly inundating the entire model within seconds…
[Elaborate on fluid dynamics, event timeline comparisons, factors influencing flash flood destruction, mitigation solutions]Mile High Destruction: Passenger Plane Crash
[Overview plane set details]TD hoists the model plane upwards before releasing it to plummet uncontrolled onto the pavement below…
[Physics of crash sequence, compare real plane accidents, aviation design, investigation process]Siege by Sea: Medieval Castle vs. Storm Surge
Against all odds, could an ancient coastal fortress withstand mother nature‘s unrelenting fury?
[Composition of impressive castle set, lead into tsunami simulation battering the structure]LEGOs in Professional Disaster Research
Beyond dramatic explosions of bricks, simulations reveal new possibilities for practical disaster research applications. Interlocking pieces with uniform dimensions actually lend incredibly well for modeling real-world buildings, cities, vehicles, and more.
Studies have used LEGOs to construct entire communities to evaluate how structures withstand flooding based on different brick compositions. Earthquake tables test building stability in the face of rumbling foundations. LEGO cars placed on inclined planes help analyze acceleration and braking distances. The simplicity of LEGOs enables quickly reconfiguring models to methodically test iterative design improvements.
Teaching Disaster Preparedness with LEGOs
Educators increasingly leverage LEGOs for vividly demonstrating disasters in classroom environments:
- Flood models vividly demonstrate vulnerability differences buildings face based on elevation and water ingress points
- Tornado simulations could evaluate how tower designs and shapes influence wind shear/tear
- Earthquake testing platforms shake LEGO city models to analyze responses
Instead of abstract lectures, interactive LEGO disasters provide critical hands-on learning and discussions on infrastructure resiliency. Students gain tangible perspective on the dangerous potency of natural forces while exploring mitigations around creative architecture and city planning innovations.
Key Takeaways
TD BRICK‘s dramatic disaster experiments make for sensational YouTube entertainment. But more fundamentally, interlocking bricks provide a compelling medium for professionals and hobbyists alike seeking insights into applied physics phenomena. Much as pilots safely train for dangerous situations using flight simulators, LEGO cities help architects and engineers experiment with introducing radical disaster-proofing innovations without costs or risks of real brick & mortar developments.
Furthermore, vivid LEGO catastrophes better attune the public on respecting the formidable fury real disasters unleash. When witnessing sweeping destruction firsthand through 3D models, the human losses suffered in the face of surging floods and gale force winds gain potent meaning. Imagine entire LEGO communities getting ravaged before seeing hunks of plastic float out to sea. This virtual tragedy makes grappling with the true crisis more real.
So beyond dazzling destruction porn, creative LEGO disaster experiments can hopefully lead to real-world disaster preparedness and infrastructure resiliency improvements saving untold lives. The power resides in the simple brick.
[/End wrap-up summary & takeaways]I‘m eager to hear your thoughts in the comments below! What LEGO disasters should we simulate next?
