Episode 2. Shake-Table Testing Earthquake-Resistant Building Components

Earthquake engineer Andre Barbosa joins us to describe the fascinating NHERI Converging Design project, currently testing earthquake-resilient building components on the NHERI at UC San Diego shake table. Barbosa describes U-shaped flexural plates (UFPs), which can deform and dissipate energy – and with post-tensioning rods, recenter. Also, the team is testing buckling restrained braces, which function like replaceable “structural fuses.” Lastly, the project is examining traditional steel moment frames coupled with braced frames that include energy dissipating (“yielding”) fuse-like elements. These tests will guide the future of resilient structural design in earthquake-prone regions.

Get background info on the multi-institutional NHERI Converging Design project: https://tallwoodinstitute.org/converging-design-home-5663/

Read up on Professor Barbosa’s research at Oregon State University: https://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~barbosa/

The NHERI at UC San Diego shake table, LHPOST6, is the world’s largest outdoor shake table: https://ucsd.designsafe-ci.org/

Follow Dr. Barbosa on X: @BarbosaRDGroup

Questions about NHERI or NHERI extreme events research? Contact us: nheri.communications@gmail.com.