Due to the complexity of structural performance during strong earthquakes and the highly nonlinear response of structural systems, computer simulations have to be verified with experimental data to establish their reliability. Calibration of computer... (more)

Due to the complexity of structural performance during strong earthquakes and the highly nonlinear response of structural systems, computer simulations have to be verified with experimental data to establish their reliability. Calibration of computer simulation tools requires data on models that realistically represent not only structural components, but also the interaction among them and system response. The scale has to be sufficiently large to replicate both the macroscopic and microscopic structural response. This is particularly important for Performance-Based Design (PBD) in which localized damage can be the performance criterion. While the research community has successfully studied different aspects of component behavior, it has not been able to experimentally evaluate the system behavior because of the lack of large-scale testing facilities, high capacity testing equipment, and the necessary information technology (IT) infrastructure. The technical focus of this study is on three approximately quarter-scale test models of a series of four-span bridge frame supported on three shake tables at UNR. Shake table testing will take place during the second, third, and the first half of the fourth year of the project at approximately six to eight-month intervals. All the objectives of the study will be addressed through the testing and performance evaluation of these bridge models. The study consists of preliminary analytical studies of the system prior to finalizing its design, construction of the model, instrumentation, setting up the model, shake table simulations, data collection, data processing and reduction, and interpretation and evaluation of the response. Concurrent with all these tasks there will be considerable interaction with several other universities that will be directly and indirectly involved in the UNR part of the research. Bridge abutment studies, as a part of this project, will be conducted at the University of California , San Diego (UCSD) by utilizing its large high performance outdoor shake table (LHPOST). This part of the study will precede the shake table tests at UNR. An international component is included in the tasks on innovative materials and numerical simulations. (hide)

Equipment	Component	Equipment Class
Caltrans SFSI Facility	Laminar Soil Box	Soil Container
Hydraulic Power Supply	2500 gal Accumulator Banks	Hydraulic Power Infrastructure
Hydraulic Power Supply	Hydraulic Piping	Hydraulic Power Infrastructure
Hydraulic Power Supply	Main Hydraulic Pump	Hydraulic Power Infrastructure
Hydraulic Power Supply	Pilot Hydraulic Pump	Hydraulic Power Infrastructure
Hydraulic Power Supply	Surge Tank	Hydraulic Power Infrastructure
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Axis 206 Network Camera	Camera
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Axis 211 Network Camera	Camera
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Concrete Reaction Mass	Reaction System
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Horizontal Actuators	Hydraulic Actuator
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	NEES LAN	LAN Infrastructure
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	NI DAQ	DAQ Infrastructure
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Platen Yaw Restraint	Shaking Table System
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Shake Table Controller	Other Utilities
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Sony EVI-D30	Camera
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Steel Platen	Shaking Table System
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Vertical Pressure Balance Bearings	Hydraulic Actuator
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Vertical Tension Struts	Hydraulic Actuator
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Video Server	Video Server
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Video System	Other Utilities
Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)	Weatherproofing System	Other Utilities
NI DAQ	SCXI-1121	DAQ Infrastructure
NI DAQ	SCXI-1520	DAQ Infrastructure
Pacific DAQ	Pacific 5500	DAQ Infrastructure
Shake Tables (Bi-axial)	469D	Other Utilities
Shake Tables (Bi-axial)	Biaxial Shake Table - 1	Shaking Table System
Shake Tables (Bi-axial)	Biaxial Shake Table - 2	Shaking Table System
Shake Tables (Bi-axial)	Biaxial Shake Table - 3	Shaking Table System
Shake Tables (Bi-axial)	FlexTest IIM	Other Utilities

Robert Nelson; Mehdi Saiidi, "CCEER-07-04: Experimental Evaluation of Performance of Conventional Bridge Systems" (view)

Yilei Shi; Bin Li; Amir Mirmiran, "SCL-071201: Seismic Performance of Hybrid FRP-Concrete Pier Columns" (view)

Yilei Shi; Bin Li; Amir Mirmiran, "SCL-020108: Seismic Performance of Hybrid FRP-Concrete Pier Frame System" (view)

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Additional photos (view)