NEES@UNR

Training courses are offered to assist researchers and practitioners become familiar with the nature and design of shake table experiments, and to learn about the capabilities of the facilities at UNR and the safety procedures that must be followed when working in, or visiting the laboratory at UNR. These courses are described in what follows.

Title

Content / Topics

Duration and Frequency

Intended Participants

Staffing and Other

Experimental Methods in Earthquake Engineering Using Shake Tables

Course material will be available online.

Typical shake table experiments. Advantages and disadvantages of shake tables. Scale modeling, mass similitude, modeling materials. Table design and construction, servo-hydraulics, digital control, performance spectra. Experiment design, table limitations, boundary conditions. Sensors and load cells, data acquisition systems, errors, data quality assurance. Selection of table time histories, test matrices, data measurement plan, safety plan. Data interpretation and storage, data processing. Specimen removal and disposal.

Capabilities of the NEES Shake Table Facilities at University at Buffalo, University of California San Diego and University of Nevada Reno.

15 hours

Continuously available.

Faculty, graduate students, post docs and research engineers, visiting scholars.

Background in structural earthquake engineering. Successful completion of introductory MS course in Structural Dynamics.

Required of all researchers and practitioners before using laboratory, OR show evidence of equivalent expertise.

Material prepared jointly by faculty at UNReno, University at Buffalo, and UC San Diego.

Updated annually by engineering personnel followed by revisions to web materials.

Safety Procedures in the Large-Scale Structures Laboratory

On-site course.

Laboratory hazards, importance of safety, mandatory requirements.

Laboratory hours, access after hours, use of protective equipment, working at heights greater than 1.2m (4 ft) above the strong floor, working in and around hydraulic lines, use of cranes, forklifts, power tools, welding equipment, prestressing jacks, and hydraulic actuators.

Restrictions on access to basement and pump house.

Work policies for fabrication yard.

Rights of senior laboratory personnel to stop any activity, by any user, for any reason.

Denial of laboratory privileges for repeat violations of safety rules and procedures.

3 hours

Beginning of each semester or on demand.

Faculty, graduate students, post docs, research engineers, and visiting scholars.

Required of all researchers and practitioners before using laboratory facilities.

Course offered by Senior Laboratory Manager or Senior Development Technician.

Updated annually by Laboratory Director and Senior Laboratory Manager.

Procedures are posted on UNR NEES web site.