Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Research of the Structures Group at the University of Calgary aims at providing innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions to the structural aspects of civil engineering infrastructure. This research involves experimental investigations into the behaviour of structural elements built from modern high performance and advanced composite materials. Structural health monitoring technologies are also being developed. Members of the group have a strong track record in full-scale testing of structural components. Research activities in the structures Laboratories at Calgary have increased dramatically, particularly with recent collaboration in structural health monitoring projects with the Digital Imaging Group of Geomatics Engineering. The structures laboratories currently have a number of MTS actuators that are almost in constant use. Some of these actuators are more than 20 years old and are no longer functioning properly. Because of the old age of these actuators, parts and technical support from MTS have become obsolete. Many of the projects undertaken by the Structures Group involve fatigue and dynamic testing that requires the use of multiple actuators. Furthermore, some of the actuators can be needed in more than one project at the same time. Use of these actuators in one project can delay the progress of another. Therefore, it is proposed to purchase the following: 1) A pair of identical MTS Linear Hydraulic Actuators, each of 160 kN capacity and 250 mm stroke; 2) An MTS Linear Hydraulic Actuator with a 1000 kN capacity and 250 mm stroke. The requested actuators are replacing three existing old ones. The identical pair of 160 kN actuators is needed for use in a shake frame for dynamic loading tests, and for testing structural components such as building frame joints and slab-column connections under the effects of moments produced by lateral loads. The actuators will be used to apply vertical or lateral loads to specimens moving dynamically in two directions. Therefore, the actuators must have flexibility at their supports. The requested actuators have swivel base and head assemblies in order to compensate for movement of the test specimens.