NSF Webcast: Testing for earthquakes, inside and out

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – On April 17, 2012, an NSF-supported team of researchers will shake a full-size building outfitted with the myriad inner workings of modern life.

From elevators to ceiling tiles, hospital equipment to computer servers, and wiring to pipes, numerous non-structural elements will be tested as a five-story concrete building shakes from the motions of the devastating 1994 Northridge earthquake and the 2010 San Pedro earthquake in Chile.

Hilti is the only fastening and firestopping technology company represented on the project. Actively participating in third-party research such as this enables Hilti to continue to help build a better future by developing and delivering products at the height of reliability and safety; and in this specific case, designed to withstand major seismic and subsequent fire events.

The company’s commitment also extends to supporting the industry with critical information relevant to design codes and building standards.

The testing will take place atop the outdoor shake table at the Englekirk Structural Engineering Center at the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), part of NSF’s 14-site national Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation. Reporters can attend via a Q+A webcast hosted by NSF within hours of the actual shake.

To participate in the NSF Q+A webcast with study leads Tara Hutchinson and Jose Restrepo, along with NSF NEES program manager Joy Pauschke, contact NSF media officer Josh Chamot at (703) 292-7730 or jchamot@nsf.gov for the webcast participant passcode and phone number.

Who: Principal investigator Tara Hutchinson, Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, co-principal investigator Jose Restrepo, Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, NSF NEES program manager Joy Pauschke

What: Full-scale shake test of five-story hospital/office building and its internal components and follow-on webcast

When: NSF Webcast: April 17, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. EDT (11:00 a.m. PDT)

Where: NSF Webcast: https://live.science360.gov/

To attend the shake in person, contact UC San Diego media officer Ioana Patringenaru at (858) 822-0899 or ipatrin@ucsd.edu for instructions and guidelines. We are asking that media RSVP for the on-site event by noon April 16.