9810678 Kutter centrifuge model testing is an important tool for earthquake engineers to help understand the engineering deformation and failure of soils and foundations and their interaction with structures. Physical models of these failure and deformation problems can be constructed and tested while they spin on a centrifuge. The centrifuge acceleration field increased the "self weight" of models so that stresses in the model are similar to those in typical prototypes. Because soils have nonlinear material properties, the similarity of stresses in model and prototype greatly enhances the accuracy of the model tests. The centrifuge is an extremely valuable tool for systematic studies of the effects of earthquakes on soils and soil-structure interaction. The new geotechnical centrifuge in Hong Kong will provide a unique opportunity for engineers to obtain data to study the effects of two directional (2-D) shaking on soils and soil- structure systems. This project will organize an international symposium to allow researchers in Asia and the U.S. and other parts of the world to exchange experiences in soil dynamics research in general and centrifuge model testing in particular. The workshop will open the possibility of future collaboration including the sharing of data and facilities and the planning of complementary research programs. The possibilities and plans for networking of the Hong Kong centrifuge with U.S. and international geotechnical earthquake engineering facilities, as an extension of the MRE/ 15 HPS concept, will also be discussed in the symposium. ***
