UNLV Engineering Geophysics Laboratory

In-Situ Earthquake Ground Motion Simulator

Seismic Site Investigation for an In-Situ Earthquake Ground Motion Simulator

Bechtel Corporation and the Nevada Testing Institute (NeTI) are designing an in-situ earthquake ground motion simulator capable of measuring soil-structure interaction as well as applying loads to large scale structures through a soil foundation.

Demonstrations of the concept were conducted in the summer of 1998 at the Nevada Test Site.  Seismic measurements were conducted for the purpose of site characterization and documentation of stiffness changes due to shock loading.

Hans Rawhouser is installing 4.5 Hz geophones along the edge of the soil island,  and applying seismic energy by dropping a sledge hammer.

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