NEES Earthquake Simulation and Networking Capabilities at RPI centrifuge

摘要

The existing 100 g-ton geotechnical centrifuge at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) was selected in year 2000 as one of the experimental sites of the new Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) supported by the National Science Foundation. In the first phase of NEES which ends in September 2004, the RPI centrifuge will be upgraded and networked to the rest of the NEES network. The earthquake engineering experimental facilities of the centrifuge are being upgraded to include: (1) a 2D in-flight earthquake shaker (two prototype horizontal components) and associated 2D laminar box container to allow for more realistic 2D modeling; (2) a four degrees of freedom (4D) robot capable of performing in flight operations such as construction and excavation, pile driving, ground remediation, cone penetration, and static and cyclic loading tests; (3) a networked data acquisition system with Internet Tele-observation/Tele-participation capability; (4) high-speed cameras and image processing tools; (5) a new generation of advanced and improved sensors capable of providing a better resolution of the measured model response; and (6) other equipment aimed at increasing the capability of the centrifuge to test a greater number and wider variety of earthquake engineering models. The use of dense arrays of advanced sensors and of high speed cameras will provide high resolution measured model response and will enable new paradigms in test visualization, system identification, numerical computations and development of model-based simulations. The NEES networked data acquisition systems with remote access capability, will allow for a radical expansion in the use of the data at RPI and throughout NEES, including tele-participation and shared-use of data. A tele-observation/tele-participation pilot project will be conducted before year 2004 with the U. of California, San Diego (UCSD) to develop a first tele-participation experience.