This award provides funding for Lehigh University to purchase advanced instrumentation and to perform associated work for the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) - Real-time Multidirectional (RTMD) Earthquake Simulation System facility that will be operated by NEES Consortium, Inc., as a national shared use facility during FY 2005 - FY 2014. This funding is provided for requested equipment that will upgrade the RTMD earthquake simulation facility in several ways: (1) more complex 3-D tests can be performed which require 6 dynamic degrees of freedom; (2) the maximum velocity of an actuator will be twice that of the current actuators (i.e., increasing from 1000 mm/sec to 2420 mm/sec); (3) accurate dynamic measurements can be obtained using sensors with dynamic measuring capabilities; (4) the data acquisition will be easier to use, by enabling programmable calibration; (5) development of new testing algorithms and servo-hydraulic control laws can be more accurately verified before hydraulic power is turned on; (6) training of shared users will be enhanced by the use of hydraulic off mode software, enabling the features of the control system architecture to be illustrated through simulation; and (7) Metadata will be more conveniently and accurately obtained and documented. The requested equipment, includes: dynamic actuator; servo valve; hydraulic service manifold; control system modifications to the existing controller to enable a 6th degree of freedom; hydraulic actuator hoses; instrumentation and instrumentation cabling and rack system; actuator hydraulics off mode software; DAS programmable calibration reference and maintenance software; and digitalizing equipment to collect and catalog Metadata for experiments to be performed in the RTMD facility.
