SGER: Development of a Flexible Container for Centrifuge Differential Ground Motion Simulation

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The motivation for this project is the extension of centrifuge modeling to the simulation of general three-dimensional ground motions in geotechnical earthquake engineering. One step in this direction is the novel concept of a Centrifuge Differential Ground Motion Simulator (CDGMS). This action is to support, under the Small Grants for Exploratory Research program, the exploration and testing of a Flexibase container design that can deliver uniform, linear, quadratic or discontinuous motions to a centrifuge soil model via a multi-shake table system. cThe Flexibase container will permit the simulation of three- dimensional seismic characteristics, such as those arising from non-vertical seismic incidence, traveling waves and near-field effects.Finite element modeling is used to achieve an optimal design via detailed dynamic analysis of different soil-container designs under centrifugal forces. The computational platform will also provide an efficient framework for iterative selection of materials, geometries, bearings and other mechanical components in the final design. Scaled prototypes will then be fabricated where appropriate for physical testing and performance evaluation.