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

The requested grant will allow structural engineering researchers at the Univeristy of New Brunswick to test structural systems and components, such as beams, columns and panels, made with any materials, to determine their structural properties under dynamic loads which arise from human, wind and seismic actions. An advanced software program, acquired as part of the purchased facility will enable the researchers to predict the changes in structural performance when certain modifications are made to the test structure without actually testing the modified structure. The major benefit of the research to be performed using the requested facility will be an improvement in our ability to understand how structural systems behave under dynamic loading conditions. The end result is that structural systems will be safer under extreme loading conditions arsing from  hurricane and seismic, and exhibit less disturbing vibrational movement under normal human activities such as walking.