Collaborative Research: Testing and Analyses of Nonrectangular Walls Under Multi-Directional Loads
| Principal Investigator(s): | Sivalingam Sritharan |
|---|---|
| Co-Principal Investigator(s): | Catherine French, Ricky Lopez |
| Team Member(s): | Jonathan Waugh |
| Sponsor(s): | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
| Start Date: | 12/01/2003 |
| End Date: | 12/01/2006 |
| Keyword(s): | Seismic Resistant Design of Structures, Large Scale Testing of Structures |
Project Description:
This project represents a collaborative analytical, experimental and
educational effort to investigate the behavior of nonrectangular
structural walls subjected to the effects of multidirectional
loading. Nonrectangular structural walls are often used to resist
lateral loads and limit deformations in structural systems located in
regions of moderate and high seismicity. Although such wall systems
are intended to resist the lateral forces along the orthogonal axes
of the building, past research has been limited to unidirectional
studies of these systems due to limitations in experimental
capabilities, as such the numerical models developed to describe
their behavior have been calibrated to this limited data.
The project has a significant educational component through plans to
incorporate the testing and simulation into the curriculum at the
three collaborative universities including the participation of
underrepresented groups. The involvement of the practicing engineer
from the beginning of the project, who along with the Principal
Investigator is involved in the development of the American Concrete
Institute Building Code, ensures that the appropriate research
findings may be translated directly into practice with improved
detailing recommendations for nonrectangular structural walls. As
such, this project will improve the nation's infrastructure in
seismic regions. It is also anticipated that the results of this
project will lead to valuable information for future remote users of
the MAST system. This information will include documentation of any
observed deformations of the reaction wall and crosshead, as well as
the ability of the system to function under mixed mode control with
large applied forces. The performance and userability evaluations of
the remote participant capabilities within the MAST are intended to
lead to an improved system for remote participation. The Co-PIs have
a vested interest within this project to actively evaluate these
capabilities as they are essential to their participation in this
project. It is intended that the research data be made available to
the research community through the NSF, George E. Brown Jr., NEES
National Data Repository. Any hardware or instrumentation purchased
at the University of Minnesota through this project will be available
to future users of the MAST facility.