Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

In our research, we investigate the behaviour of built structures under gravity and earthquake loads, to achieve higher levels of safety and more economical design. We request funds to purchase a state-of-the-art hybrid testing system that is capable of performing experimental testing on full-sized structural components, connections and subassemblies under gravity and earthquake loads. Using these unique capabilities, our team will be able to acquire detailed response parameters to achieve three objectives: 1) to address several undesirable failures observed in our previous numerical simulations; and 2) to develop sustainable and resilient structural systems that can address natural hazards such as earthquake; 3) to develop enhanced design methods for practitioners. By acquiring this system, our team will be able to make significant fundamental and applied contributions in three key research areas which strongly support construction industry in Canada: Response evaluation and validation: the proposed system will be used to experimentally examine the behaviour of structural systems; the results from such experiments will also be used to validate numerical simulation models and propose advanced numerical techniques. Design guidelines: innovative design provisions will be developed using detailed and reliable data obtained from the combined numerical and experimental simulations to reduce construction costs and improve safety of civil structures. Advanced structural systems: sustainable structural systems consistent with design and fabrication practice in Canada will be developed using results obtained from hybrid testing. The hybrid testing system will augment current NSERC-supported testing facilities in I.F. Morrison Structures Laboratory of the University of Alberta and will support our research team that involve over 40 highly qualified personnel over the next five years. The results of ongoing research projects by the applicants will provide basics for the future experimental investigations planned to be performed by the requested equipment. No comparable testing system exists at any research institution in Alberta and acquiring such system will enable us to develop a network for response evaluation of structures under natural hazards across the country and establish a world-class environment to train future structural engineers with valuable hands-on technical skills in structural design, computer simulation and advanced structural testing. Further, detailed and reliable test data produced using the proposed system will serve as the foundation for future research projects, provide practical tools for construction industry in Canada, and enhance our international collaborations. A delay in acquiring the hybrid testing systems will result in significant constraints in progress of our research projects strongly supported by industry and HQP training.