Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The purchase of a Uni-Directional Shaking Table (UDST) MTS system controller will allow determining the seismic performance and damage states of various structural components and systems made of novel materials under seismic loading. Utilization of novel materials will substantially improve the service life of various structures under seismic load events and will have a profound impact to reach a sustainable solution to infrastructure and its management. However, it is critical to understand their damage states by performing shaking table tests. The specific engineering pursuits of interest to this research proposal relate to the following:******Self-Centering Structures and Devices: This research focuses on the development of low-cost, easy to build structural elements, components and systems with self-centering capability and high energy dissipation capacity during earthquakes. Structures fitted with such innovative devices or structural elements will experience almost no damage during a seismic event.***New Generation Timber Structures: This research helps Canadian wood industries towards tall timber building initiatives where shaking table testing of large timber wood products (cross-laminated timber, glulam) will help develop performance based design of timber structures.***Rack Structures: The number of commercial warehouses are increasing significantly across North America (e.g., Costco, Amazon store) where storage rack structures are erected inside for storing goods and/or displaying merchandise. This project focuses on the seismic design of rack clad buildings. Limited research has been conducted in this area where seismic design provisions in Canada was introduced in 2014 (CSA S16-2014). Hence, the main goal of this research project is to provide innovative seismic design solutions and guidelines for new rack structures and seismic strengthening/retrofitting of deficient rack structures. Shake-table tests are essential to verify the adequacy of the improved seismic design procedure and design guidelines.******The use of the proposed MTS controller will substantially improve the testing capability of the Applied Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Structures (ALAMS) at UBCO. ALAMS has already secured a 250 kN fatigue rated MTS actuator and shaking table top and base. The requested MTS controller will make the shaking table functional and help researchers perform shaking table tests to define damage states and develop seismic design guidelines for innovative structures. The requested equipment will further help train a diversified group of students who will develop a sustainable Canadian infrastructure system through the use of novel materials and structural systems with better seismic performance and long service life, which will be economically viable and environmentally sound.