RAPID: Wind, Thermal, and Earthquake Monitoring of the Watts Towers

这个快速研究Graant（RAPID）奖是为了收集由阵风和地震引起的震动数据，这些震动发生在代表加州洛杉矶多个雕塑的瓦茨塔上。瓦茨塔是由艺术家西蒙·罗迪亚在1921-1955年间建造的17座艺术钢塔的集合。塔的高度各不相同，最高的塔高30米。该艺术作品被注册为国家历史地标。洛杉矶县艺术博物馆正计划长期保护这些艺术塔。由于塔楼是复杂而独特的结构，因此应了解结构对自然现象的响应和振动特性，以便制定长期维修和保护策略。 风和其他自然环境因素导致建筑物的立面恶化。一些结构遭受砂浆覆盖层开裂和装饰物丢失。圣安娜风，发生在三月和四月，是造成结构振动的主要因素之一。该项目将安装结构反应记录仪器，以便在3月和4月的大风期间收集数据。主要研究者计划使用UCLA NEES研究中心的仪器。加速度计、应变计、倾斜计和风速计将安装在现场和一个高大的雕塑上，以记录风速和结构反应。这些仪器还将捕捉到几次中等地震。记录的数据将被分析，以评估结构特征和结构的振动水平。研究结果将使洛杉矶县艺术博物馆的保护人员能够为雕塑的长期使用制定翻新策略。

This Rapid Research Graant (RAPID) award is to collect data of vibrations caused by wind gusts and earthquake tremors on Watts Towers representing multiple sculptures located in Los Angeles, California. Watts Towers are a collection of 17 artistic steel towers constructed by the artist Simon Rodia during 1921-1955. The towers vary in height with the tallest towers are 30 meters high. The art work is registered as a national Historic Landmark. The Los Angeles County Museum of Arts is planning to conserve these art towers over a long term. Since the towers are complex and unique structures, the response and vibration characteristics of the structures to natural phenomena should be understood so that a long term repair and conservation strategy can be established. Wind and other natural environmental elements have caused deterioration to the facades of the structures. Several structures suffer from cracking of the mortar cover and loss of ornaments. Santa Anna winds, which occur during March and April, are one of the major elements that cause vibration of the structures. The project will install structural response recording instruments to collect data during the high wind period of March and April. Principle Investigator plans to use instruments from the UCLA NEES site. Accelerometers, strain gages, inclinometers, and anemometers will be installed at the site and on a tall sculpture to record wind speeds and structural responses. The instruments will also capture several moderate earthquakes.The recorded data will be analyzed to assess structural characteristics and level of vibration of the structure. The results will permit Los Angeles County Museum of Arts conservators to develop refurbishing strategies for long-term life of the sculptures.