Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
4.2. UCSD SHAKE TABLE (http://nees.ucsd.edu,
PROF. JOSE' RESTREPO, PI)
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Large High Performance Outdoor
Shake Table (LHPOST) is being developed at the Englekirk Field Station, a site located
15km away from the main UCSD campus. The shake table, acting in combination with
equipment and facilities separately funded by the California Department of Transporta-
tion (Caltrans), which include a large laminar soil shear box (inside dimensions of the
box are 6.71m long by 2.90m wide by as much as 5m in height) and two refillable soil
pits, represents a one-of-a-kind worldwide seismictesting facility (Figure 5.24).
This unique facility enables next generation seismic experiments to be conducted on
very large structural and soil-foundation-structure interaction (SFSI) systems such as
full-scale buildings, single and multiple column bridge bents in a laminar soil box,
utility/lifeline structures such as electrical sub-stations, nuclear containment casks, and
seismic isolation systems. Moreover, the proximity of a soil pit to the UCSD LHP Out-
door Shake Table will allow hybrid shake table-soil pit experiments to be conducted.
UCSD is convinced that this innovative piece of NSF equipment in conjunction with the
Caltrans SFSI facility will add unique testing capabilities to NEES and consolidate the
leadership of the NEES collaboratory as a worldwide predominant earthquake testing
consortium.
(a) Facility layout including shake
table and adjacent large soil pit
(b) 7-Storey Shear building model on
shake table
(d) Close-up of soil container on shake
table during Model construction
Fig. 5.24. UCSD NEES Large HighPerformance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST)
(c) Bridge abutment soil model
construction on shake table
