2nd EFAST Workshop, Reliable Testing of Seismic Performance

The EFAST project consisted of a design study of a new major seismic testing facility in Europe that will be comparable with important testing installations that are now working or under construction in Japan, U.S.A., China and Taiwan. The presentations by invited experts during the 2nd EFAST Workshop, which was held by the end of the project, emphasized the basic idea that experiments are necessary because reliable engineering cannot still rely only on numerical predictions. The relation between the experimental research and the improvements of the buildings codes in the last decades has also suggested that a consistent experimental activity is fundamental for properly understanding and predicting the real behaviour of complex structural elements. Today in many fields, as in the assessment of nuclear facilities for example, more reliability is required in order to increase the safety, which leads to a newer impulse for experimental testing of components, subsystems, soil-structure interaction effects and so on. The necessity and characteristics of the available testing methods was reviewed with up-to-date examples and studies on aspects such as shaking table, pseudo-dynamic and hybrid testing methods, centrifuge facilities, scale models, soil-structure interaction, control strategies and performance. Within the EFAST design study as it was presented, several solutions are proposed for the future experimental facility, among which the reference one is a laboratory composed, mainly, of a high performance shaking table array and a reaction structure where both traditional (pseudo-static/dynamic) and innovative testing techniques (e.g. real time hybrid testing) can be applied and combined. These shaking tables can be moved in the trench and can be also rigidly coupled between them, if necessary. A large SDOF shaking table for geotechnical studies is also foreseen in such solution. The discussion of the different solutions covered aspects such as costs (including safety, maintenance and operation), demand of experiments, flexibility and performance among others.JRC.G.5-European laboratory for structural assessmen

R&D on control of vibrations under covicocepad during 2007-2008

This paper provides information on the latest R&D within COVICOCEPAD project approved in the framework of Eurocores program. It addresses the use of TLD, base isolation devices, MR dampers and a hybrid technique using both devices together. Some results are provided associated with calibration of a MR damper at FEUP, as well as its inclusion in a small scale laboratory set-up with proper equations of motion of the controlled smart structure. An application of semi-active control technique to a bridge is outlined. Further remarks and details on future tests to be performed in LNEC shaking table, within COVICOCEPAD project, are provided

1st year EFAST annual report

The present report provides information about the activities conducted during the 1st year of the EFAST project. The first chapter is dedicated to describe the inquiries conducted at the beginning of the project and to briefly summarise the main results. The second chapter is dedicated to the first EFAST workshop where some of the leading scientists in the field of earthquake engineering have met to discuss about the need and the technologies related to earthquake engineering. The third chapter contains a state of the art and future direction in seismic testing and simulation. The final chapter is dedicated to describe the preliminary design of the web portal of the future testing facility.JRC.DG.G.5-European laboratory for structural assessmen

State-of-the-art review on adjustable pallet racks testing for seismic design

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review on seismic tests of adjustable pallet rack systems: on particular components of racks, subassemblies, full racks and stored goods. The tested particular components are the most critical connections: beams-to-uprights, braces-to-uprights, and floor-to-uprights; subassemblies also include beam-to-upright connections, among other components. Tests on full racks can be static (pushover), pseudo-dynamic, or dynamic (pullout and shaking table). Finally, tests on stored goods are sliding (aimed to identify the friction coefficient with the supporting members) and tilting (to check their confinement). The examination of the discussed experiments provides relevant conclusions and allows identifying research needs.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Actuators and sensors for application in agricultural robots: A review

In recent years, with the rapid development of science and technology, agricultural robots have gradually begun to replace humans, to complete various agricultural operations, changing traditional agricultural production methods. Not only is the labor input reduced, but also the production efficiency can be improved, which invariably contributes to the development of smart agriculture. This paper reviews the core technologies used for agricultural robots in non-structural environments. In addition, we review the technological progress of drive systems, control strategies, end-effectors, robotic arms, environmental perception, and other related systems. This research shows that in a non-structured agricultural environment, using cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR), as well as ultrasonic and satellite navigation equipment, and by integrating sensing, transmission, control, and operation, different types of actuators can be innovatively designed and developed to drive the advance of agricultural robots, to meet the delicate and complex requirements of agricultural products as operational objects, such that better productivity and standardization of agriculture can be achieved. In summary, agricultural production is developing toward a data-driven, standardized, and unmanned approach, with smart agriculture supported by actuator-driven-based agricultural robots. This paper concludes with a summary of the main existing technologies and challenges in the development of actuators for applications in agricultural robots, and the outlook regarding the primary development directions of agricultural robots in the near future

Enhancing the collaboration of earthquake engineering research infrastructures

Towards stronger international collaboration of earthquake engineering research infrastructures International collaboration and mobility of researchers is a means for maximising the efficiency of use of research infrastructures. The European infrastructures are committed to widen joint research and access to their facilities. This is relevant to European framework for research and innovation, the single market and the competitiveness of the construction industry.JRC.G.4-European laboratory for structural assessmen

On dynamic control of structural vibrations research activities conducted within the covicocepad project

This paper provides an overview on the latest research and development (R&D) activities carried out under the project entitled Comparison of Vibration Control in Civil Engineering Using Passive and Active Dampers (COVICOCEPAD) which was executed within the framework of the Eurocores project, as a part of the sixth European program. The general interest of the paper relies upon the variety of presented highlights relevant to structural control research streams currently under development in a number of European universities, addressing the use of tuned liquid dampers (TLD), base isolation devices, magneto-rheological (MR) dampers and a hybrid technique using both devices together. The paper also provides details of a few new testing equipments which are in use of the relevant laboratories. Finally, research projects in the field of structural control at the involved research institutes are reviewed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Some resesarch on control of vibrations in civil engineering under covicocepad project

Some information is provided on the latest R&D within COVICOCEPAD project approved in the framework of Eurocores program. It addresses the use of TMD’s TLD’s, base isolation devices, MR dampers and a hybrid technique using both devices together. Some results are provided associated with calibration of a MR damper at FEUP, as well as its inclusion in a small scale laboratory set-up with proper equations of motion of the controlled smart structure. Applications of TMD’s devices to two civil engineering structures under dynamic and seismic actions are also outlined

Preliminary Report to ESFRI Roadmap for the new Research Infrastructure EFAST

The present report provides information useful for the preparation of the application of the new Research Infrastructure EFAST to the ESFRI roadmap. A brief introduction about the EFAST project and the ESFRI open the document. Two sections follow: the first one is devoted to identify the main need in Earthquake Engineering, the second one deals with the current and future testing technologies all around the world. The proposed concept of the EFAST testing facility is then described and the main strategic values are illustrated. Economic aspects about its realisation and the positive fall down on European economy are also discussed. A section dedicated to the impact of EFAST on the scientific community and, more generally, on the whole society conclude the report.JRC.G.5-European laboratory for structural assessmen