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| Structural Engineering and Earthquake
Simulation Laboratory(SEESL)
For more complete information regarding this laboratory, see the Extended Publication of SEESL Physical Facilities and Personnel The structural laboratory includes a state-of-the-art 12 X 12 foot seismic shaking table simulator, and an 18" thick concrete "strong floor" which covers an overall area of 3400 square feet. The structural laboratories offer material testing equipment for both static and dynamic loading systems; a structural models laboratory; a concrete laboratory; and a multi-story testing bay for testing full-scale components. The University at Buffalo shaking table has five degrees of freedom (DOF), all of which can be individually programmed. The sixth DOF is constrained by two hydrostatic slide bearings. Reinforcing rods, located biaxially in the table, are capable of tension adjustment to "tune" the table structure with test loads mounted on it. Motion is produced by servocontrolled electrohydraulic actuators. Structural models of up to 50 metric tons (110,000 lbs) can be shaken with a maximum acceleration of .5 g in the horizontal direction and 1 g in the vertical direction. At less than full load, the maximum accelerations are considerably greater. The system is capable of developing velocities of 30 in/sec in the horizontal and vertical directions. At low frequencies, the system is limited by displacements of 6 in. laterally and 3 in. vertically. The analog control system is based on a state-of-the-art, three-variable feedback system. This unique feedback arrangement leads to excellent tracking between the table and the command signal. The frequency limit of the system is determined by the natural frequency of the table and of the supporting oil columns both of which have a natural frequency of approximately 60 Hz. This allows operations over a wide band of frequencies with small error. Input or command signals to the table can be of the following types: harmonic motions (sinusoidal, square, triangular), random motions, and any recorded earthquake motion from the library of thousands of recorded accelerograms obtained from various sources. Additional software is available for the collection and processing of system data. Fourier analysis, time analysis, and other on-line procedures can be performed and the results can be electronically stored and either be printed or plotted. Data can also be transferred via the Ethernet to other computers within the University Computing Systems or to outside systems throughout the world for further processing. In addition, the existing facility includes a wide variety of state-of-the-art transducers, sensing devices, actuators, and data acquisition systems. Among these are:
Data generated during testing on any of these machines can be acquired by any of the previously mentioned PC-based data acquisition systems. Data can then be analyzed on-site or uploaded through the University at Buffalo ethernet network to Sun Workstations, to multi-processor computers or to supercomputers for further processing or distribution. The laboratory also cooperates with professional organizations such as the American Concrete Institute and local contractors and engineers to conduct certification courses intended to improve the quality of constructed facilities in the western New York and Northern Pennsylvania areas. Environmental Engineering and Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratories The environmental fluid mechanics laboratory includes a 60-foot wave tank, a 60-foot sediment-water tilting flume, a rotating laboratory for geophysical flow problems, and a water tunnel with a 5-foot test section. Instrumentation includes a laser-Doppler velocimeter. The environmental engineering laboratories are well-equipped and include nearly 5,000 square feet of graduate research space. As well as having the capacity to perform water quality analyses, the laboratories contain the following instruments: total organic carbon analyzer, total organic halogen analyzer, four gas chromatographs with multiple detectors, purge and trap unit, high performance liquid chromatograph, ozonator, automated titrator, atomic absorption spectrophotometer with graphite furnace, uv-vis scanning spectrophotometer, diodearray spectrophotometer, respirometer, fluorometers, particle size analyzer, anaerobic incubator, environmentally controlled fermentor, two diurnal growth chambers, and two temperature controlled chambers totaling 1,500 cubic feet capacity. Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Laboratories Two geotechnical laboratories have facilities for carrying out soil-structure interaction studies under both static and dynamic loading conditions. Other advanced testing facilities include light and heavy duty triaxial machines with pore water pressure measuring systems under both monotonic and cyclic loadings; material testing machines for rock samples; a wide array of consolidation apparatus for samples of different diameters; a stiff testing machine to study post-peak behavior; anteus consolidometers, and a shear box apparatus. The geotechnical and geoenvironmental testing facilities include: Automated computer controlled apparatus GeoComp loadtrac/flowtrac, ELE, Geotest, Rowe Cell) for consolidation, hydraulic conductivity, residual shear, and stress or strain path controlled static and cyclic triaxail testing, MTS actuators/loading frames to test large size specimens or scale models, HP network analyzers for material characterization/non-destructive testing, Calibration chamber and model test facility for static and dynamic pernetration testing, model pile studies, and 1-g seismic shake table studies, Electromagnetic shaker and analyzer for ground vibration studies. Geoenvironmental testing is conducted at the environmental engineering laboratories. Electronic Packaging Laboratory For more detailed information regarding this laboratory, visit www.packaging.buffalo.edu. The Electronic Packaging Laboratory specializes in electronic packaging research and development such as:
The laboratory is equipped with the following equipment:
Computational Hardware and Software Recognizing the impact of computer systems in civil engineering research and practice, the department has developed and acquired comprehensive software in structural analysis, computer-aided design, analysis of foundations, slopes, and piles under static and dynamic loading. Many of these applications are found in our computer laboratory. Advanced finite element, finite difference, and boundary element packages are used extensively. Several personal computer systems, micro and minicomputer networks, and numerous satellite terminals are available within the civil engineering buildings. The satellite terminals have access to an array of computer systems operated centrally by the University Computer Center. In addition, local area networks access SUN/Systems and DOS labs. For further information on the Structural and Geotechnical Testing Laboratories contact the Technical Services Manager:
For further information on the Environmental Engineering Laboratories contact the Instructional Support Specialist:
For further information on the Electronic Packaging Laboratory contact the Director:
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