Laboratories

The DRC project offers many different laboratory facilities for a variety of different kinds of testing and research.

1. Structural Lab (SLAB)

This is a brand new lab for large-scale testing and is a unique facility in Idaho. The SLAB features:

Capable of testing specimens up to 38 ft. long and 14 ft. tall
Total Lab Area = 1520 sq. ft.
Strong floor is 2 ft. deep and 875 sq. ft. of structural floor
374 anchor sleeves (each rated 100 kips) in grids of 18 in.
The hydraulic actuators can collectively produce a force of 1.3 million lbs.
Heavy-duty steel reaction frames designed for 400 kips loading
Dual servo-vale hydraulic actuators (static and dynamic), each with 160 kips capacity and ± 12 in. stroke
Fatigue testing machine and frame with servo-valve MTS hydraulic actuator (22 kips capacity, ± 3 in. stroke, 31 in./sec. velocity, up to 50 Hz frequency)
Tinius Olsen Universal Testing Machine, 120 kips capacity and ± 12 in. stroke
Enerpac jack, 440 kips capacity and 6 in. stroke
Hydraforce hollow jack, 220 kips capacity and 3 in. stroke
Six servo-valve hydraulic actuators (static) with 10 kips capacity and ± 4 in. stroke
Several hydraulic pumps, jacks, and accessories
Controller system for hydraulic actuators with data acquisition for 20 channels
Brand new Campbell Scientific data acquisition system with 96 channels and up to 800 Hz sampling rate
Vishay data acquisition system (20 channels)
Creep Testing Machine and Frame
Forklift with 5 kips capacity and 83 in. clearance
Gantry crane with 8 kips capacity and 144 in. clearance
High-resolution camera
Several load cells, up to 300 kips capacity
Accelerometers, load cells, LVDTs, potentiometers, and strain gauges

Structural Dynamics Lab located at the Engineering Research Complex is used for shake table testing of structural and non-structural models.

Uni-directional horizontal shake table with MTS servo-valve actuator, 10 kips capacity, ±3” stroke, 31 in/sec velocity, 50 Hz 4.5 ft. x 4.5 ft.
Uni-directional vertical shake table with MTS servo-valve actuator, 3 kips capacity, ±3” stroke, 31 in/sec velocity, 50 Hz, 2 ft. x 2 ft.
Clearance height of 12 ft.
Two Spectral Dynamics PUMA Controller software integrated with data acquisition system (10 channels), antialiasing filters, and sampling rate in excess of 2,000 Hz
Two 50HP powerful hydraulic pumps with 22 GPM capacity and manifolds for the hydraulic actuators
One extra servo-valve MTS dynamic actuator, 10 kips capacity and ±3” stroke, 31 in/sec velocity
Accelerometers, Load Cells, LVDTs, Potentiometers, and Strain Gauges
State-of-the-art Laser Vibrometer Test Setup, data acquisition, controller, and all others accessories

Modular Space with Recirculating Flow
Physical Model Studies
Numerical Model Studies (Computational Fluid Dynamics, Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics)
Flow Calibration (meters, pipes)
Tiltable 4-ft flume
Flow capacity 4500 gpm

This lab is used for graduate student offices and storing measurement instruments.

Eight student office desks
Includes all office/common room facilities e.g. desktop computers, flat screens, outlets, printer, Wi-Fi, lunch table, stools, fridge, microwave etc.