Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of British Columbia
$146,319.00
Upgrading of Linear Shake Table of the University of British Columbia
FY 2013-14
Summary
Support is being requested to upgrade the testing capabilities of the linear shake table of the Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF) at UBC. Specifically funding is being requested for purchasing a high-quality, high-capacity hydraulic actuator and a linear bearing system to improve the performance of the shake table. This table has been used for performing many tests since 1999 and after 15 years of continuous use it is urgent to replace the aging actuator and the bearing system, which is showing signs of fast deterioration. The EERF includes test equipment for specialized research on earthquakes and their effects on structures and the soil that supports them. The linear shake table is one of the earthquake simulators that are housed in the facility and is used for uni-axial testing of large-size structures. Some of the past projects include: Full scale tests of wood frame houses, Out-of-plane Masonry Wall Tests, Reinforced Concrete Frame Tests, Seismic Qualification Testing of Electrical Cabinets, Testing of Steel Braced Frames and Steel Shear Walls. There are two concerns with the linear shake table 1) The hydraulic actuator is not powerful enough to perform tests on heavy specimens and 2) The limited overturning moment capacity that does not allow testing tall and heavy specimens. To overcome these limitations two modifications are suggested: 1) Replacing the current actuator with a high-capacity dynamic actuator; and 2) Installing a linear bearing system to prevent uplift motion of the table and reduce the friction force generated in the rails. With the requested systems experimental testing of different structural configurations will become possible and a series of laboratory tests of innovative seismic retrofit methods for steel, concrete, masonry and wood frame buildings, which are being implemented as part of EERF projects, can be conducted. This will significantly strengthen UBC, British Columbia and Canada's ability to conduct state-of-the-art experimental testing to evaluate the hazard from earthquakes.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
458888-2014
Name nom
Ventura, Carlos
Department département
Civil Engineering
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2013
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
146319
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1509
Committee name en
Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie civil, industriel et des systèmes
Area of application code
601
Area of application group en
Construction, urban and rural planning
Area of application group fr
Construction, urbanisme et aménagement rural
Area of application en
Structural engineering
Area of application fr
Génie des charpentes
Research subject code
1000
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Civil engineering
Research subject fr
Génie civil
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Upgrading of Linear Shake Table of the University of British Columbia
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Support is being requested to upgrade the testing capabilities of the linear shake table of the Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF) at UBC. Specifically funding is being requested for purchasing a high-quality, high-capacity hydraulic actuator and a linear bearing system to improve the performance of the shake table. This table has been used for performing many tests since 1999 and after 15 years of continuous use it is urgent to replace the aging actuator and the bearing system, which is showing signs of fast deterioration. The EERF includes test equipment for specialized research on earthquakes and their effects on structures and the soil that supports them. The linear shake table is one of the earthquake simulators that are housed in the facility and is used for uni-axial testing of large-size structures. Some of the past projects include: Full scale tests of wood frame houses, Out-of-plane Masonry Wall Tests, Reinforced Concrete Frame Tests, Seismic Qualification Testing of Electrical Cabinets, Testing of Steel Braced Frames and Steel Shear Walls. There are two concerns with the linear shake table 1) The hydraulic actuator is not powerful enough to perform tests on heavy specimens and 2) The limited overturning moment capacity that does not allow testing tall and heavy specimens. To overcome these limitations two modifications are suggested: 1) Replacing the current actuator with a high-capacity dynamic actuator; and 2) Installing a linear bearing system to prevent uplift motion of the table and reduce the friction force generated in the rails. With the requested systems experimental testing of different structural configurations will become possible and a series of laboratory tests of innovative seismic retrofit methods for steel, concrete, masonry and wood frame buildings, which are being implemented as part of EERF projects, can be conducted. This will significantly strengthen UBC, British Columbia and Canada's ability to conduct state-of-the-art experimental testing to evaluate the hazard from earthquakes.
