MRI: Acquisition of Equipment to Simulate Collapse of Engineered Systems under Extreme Loads

传统的结构和岩土工程系统是针对重力和风荷载设计的。最近的技术进步已经允许开发更复杂的工程模型，以帮助这些系统抵抗地震荷载。最近的历史表明，极端的负载事件，如地震，爆炸和飓风，对国家的基础设施和经济构成严重威胁。极端危险工程对工程师提出了几个挑战，最重要的是防止结构倒塌造成的生命损失。 然而，缺乏用于结构和岩土系统的设计和分析的工程模型，这主要是由于工程模型所基于或验证的实验测试设备的限制。获得满足这种测试需求的设备至关重要，因为今天连续倒塌的风险比历史上更加突出。UW土木与环境工程系和拟议的研究团队拥有管理，校准和验证拟议设备的设施，专业知识和声誉，进行相关研究，吸引新用户和资助机构。该设备包括改进大型试验机（240万磅容量），以便能够施加大的垂直载荷，模拟结构部分倒塌所产生的需求。此外，包括基于激光和摄影测量系统在内的仪器将使用放置在测试样本上的目标，这将使研究人员能够充分监测样本通过崩溃的反应。该设备和UW结构研究实验室内现有设备的集成将实现所需的模拟能力。例如，2001年9月11日，纽约市的自由广场130号大楼被倒塌的世界贸易中心2号楼的一大块框架击中，造成26层楼的损失。使用该设备，大型试验机将向结构的关键部分施加变化的重力（垂直）载荷。由于拟议的测试设施超过6.7米（22英尺）高，它可以容纳一个全尺寸的样本，这是关键的模拟结构的脆性响应。测试结果将是有价值的，因为它们可以量化连接和未受损构件的需求，并建立系统的一般抗倒塌能力，包括板和非结构元件的影响。这种独特的测试能力将允许对今天不可能的结构行为进行调查，并且可以从广泛的来源获得此类工作的资金。类似的试验可以在大范围的结构系统上进行，如支撑框架、核心墙和弯矩框架，因为这些行为还没有得到很好的理解。拟议的设备将改善研究和学习环境，提高和扩大华盛顿大学土木与环境工程系结构和岩土工程小组的研究能力，并加强与地方和国家资助机构、研究合作伙伴和执业工程师的联系。这些设备将增强本科生和研究生级别的课堂和实验室学习。此外，结构研究实验室在社区外展中的获奖作用将继续并扩大此次收购

Traditional structural and geotechnical systems have been engineered for gravity and wind loads. More recent technical advances have permitted more sophisticated engineering models to be developed to aid in engineering these systems to resist earthquake loading. Recent history has demonstrated that extreme loading events, such earthquakes, blast, and hurricanes, pose severe threats to the nation's infrastructure and economy. Engineering for extreme hazards presents several challenges to engineers, most importantly preventing loss of life caused by structural collapse. However, engineering models for design and analysis of structural and geotechnical systems are lacking, primarily a result of limitations of the experimental testing equipment upon which engineering models are based or validated. Acquisition of equipment to meet this testing need is critical, because the risk of progressive collapse is more prominent today than it has been historically. The UW Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the proposed research team have the facilities, expertise, and reputation to manage, calibrate and validate the proposed equipment, conduct the related research, attract new users and funding agencies. The equipment includes enhancement of the large testing machine (2.4 million pound capacity) to enable the application of large vertical loads to simulate demands resulting from collapse of part of a structure. In addition, instrumentation including laser-based and photogrammetic systems that use targets placed on the test specimens will permit the researchers to fully monitor the response of the specimens through collapse. The integration of this equipment and the existing equipment within the UW structural research laboratory will enable the desired simulation capabilities. For example, the 130 Liberty Plaza building in New York City was struck with a large piece of the framing of the collapsing World Trade Center Tower 2 on September 11, 2001, which caused the loss of 26 stories. Using this facility, the large testing machine would apply a varying gravity (vertical) load to a critical portion of the structure. Because the proposed test facility is more than 6.7 m (22 ft) tall, it could accommodate a full-scale specimen which is critical to simulating brittle response of structures. The test results would be valuable in that they could quantify demands on connections and undamaged members and establish the general collapse resistance of the system, including the effects of slabs and nonstructural elements. This unique testing capability would allow investigations into structural behavior that are not possible today, and funding for such work will be available from a wide range of sources. Similar tests could be performed on a wide range of structural systems such as braced frames, core walls, and moment frames, since these behaviors are not well understood. The proposed equipment will enhance the research and learning environments, improve and expand the research capabilities of the structural and geotechnical engineering groups within the UW Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and intensify the links to local and national funding agencies, research partners, and practicing engineers. The equipment will enhance classroom and laboratory learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, the award-winning role of the structural research laboratory in community outreach will continue and broaden with this acquisition