Earthquake shaking table

There are several different experimental techniques that can be used to test the response of structures to verify their seismic performance, one of which is the use of an earthquake shaking table. This is a device for shaking structural models or building components with a wide range of simulated ground motions, including reproductions of recorded earthquakes time-histories. The table typically consists of a rectangular platform that is driven in up to six degrees of freedom (DOF) by servo-hydraulic or other types of actuators. Test specimens are fixed to the platform and shaken, often, to failure [http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=kzVvd4Dk6sw] but it should be noted that the control of such systems is not a trivial problem [http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=3z4YLUqOysI&feature=related] . Using data recorded from transducers, it is possible to interpret the dynamic behaviour of the specimen. Earthquake shaking tables are used extensively in seismic research, as they provide the means to excite structures in such a way that they are subjected to conditions representative of true earthquake ground motions.

A World List of Shaking Tables

Below is an attempt to create a definitive list of shaking tables around the world that are used use for seismic testing. The list is almost certainly not complete and not all the data has been verified by the shaking table owners. If you operate a shaking table please help by correcting and updating and adding to this list.

This list was originally based on information from the following documents: [http://www.nea.fr/html/nsd/docs/2004/csni-r2004-10.pdf Experimental Facilities for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Worldwide] , [http://sri.com/policy/csted/sandt/Directory.pdf Directory of International Earthquake Engineering Research Facilities] and papers by Chowdhury [Chowdhury AH (1983). Shaking table testing facilities around the world. Proceedings of the 4th Engineering Mechanics Division Specialty Conference: Recent Advances in Engineering Mechanics and their Impact on Civil Engineering Practice., West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. Vol. 1, pp. 617-620.] , Duarte [Duarte RT (1994). Report of the EAEE Working Group 11: Development of shaking table testing techniques. Proceedings of the 10th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Vienna, Austria. Vol. 4, pp. 3135-3144.] , Kamimura and Nakashima [Kamimura K, Nakashima M (1983). Seismic test facilities for building structures in Japan. Proceedings of the 4th Engineering Mechanics Division Specialty Conference: Recent Advances in Engineering Mechanics and their Impact on Civil Engineering Practice., West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. Vol. 1, pp. 638-641.] and EERI [EERI (1995). Assessment of earthquake engineering research and testing capabilities in the United States. Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Committee on Experimental Research, Oakland, CA. Publication No. WP-01, pp. 1-23.] .

Notes:This list is restricted to shaking tables bigger than 2m by 2m or with a capacity of more than 4 tonnes (i.e. tables suitable for seismic testing).

References