Eearthquake Engineering Experimental Research at JRC-ELSA

The ELSA laboratory is equipped with a large reaction-wall facility and has acquired its best expertise on the development and implementation of innovative experimental techniques mainly related to testing large-scale specimens by means of the pseudodynamic method. Apart from the relevant achievements within the testing techniques, such as the continuous pseudodynamic test and the development of effective techniques for the assessment of the experimental errors, the role of a reference laboratory in Europe has allowed ELSA to rely on the collaboration of many important research institutions that have contributed through the projects with and added maximum scientific value to the results of the tests. An example of pioneering tests performed for a relevant collaborative project are represented by the bi-directional tests performed on a multi-storey building, where the combination of sophisticated techniques have allowed for the first time to obtain most valuable information on the seismic experimental response of a torsionally unbalanced existing building in its original and retrofitted configurations.

MOLINA RUIZ Francisco Javier;  GERADIN Michel; 

2007-03-28

Springer

JRC36817