SERIES SEISMIC ENGINEERING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES FOR EUROPEAN SYNERGIES

Transcription

1 SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME Capacities Specific Programme Research Infrastructures Project No.: SERIES SEISMIC ENGINEERING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES FOR EUROPEAN SYNERGIES Workpackage WP1 Deliverable D1.2 Web portal, including plan for its maintenance and operation beyond the project end Deliverable/Task Leader: University of Patras Revision: Final July, 2013

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3 ABSTRACT The development of the SERIES web portal ( started from the outset of the project (i.e. March 2009). The first release was accomplished on month 6, in line with the Description of Work (see Deliverable D1.1). It was continuously upgraded throughout the project both in terms of content and structure. The layout of the website was updated on July 2010, and again on November 2011, following the more recent trends in web design (user friendly layout, easier navigation, quick links etc). The aim of this deliverable is to describe the current content and structure of the portal, to present milestones in the portal development, as well as a plan for its operation and maintenance after the project end. The portal will remain in use after the end of the SERIES and will be updated as needed. i

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5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community s Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/ ] under grant agreement n (SERIES). iii

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7 DELIVERABLE CONTRIBUTORS UPAT Nikolaos Avouris Ilias Kotinas Christos Fidas Stathis Bousias Dionysis Biskinis Georgios Tsionis Vassia Vayena JRC Pierre Pegon v

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9 CONTENTS List of Figures... ix 1. Structure of the Web Portal Home Page Highlights, News Pages and quick links Project Overview Webpages About SERIES Consortium Project Objectives Progress Beyond the State of the Art Methodology and Work Plan Transnational Access (Overview) Transnational Access Webpages Introduction Lab Access TA Proposals (Submission and Evaluation Procedure) Overview of the Facilities Offering Transnational Access AZALEE Shaking Table EQUALS Shaking Table EUCENTRE Shaking Table & Bearing Tester JRC Reaction Wall IFSTTAR Centrifuge LNEC Shaking Table Turner Beam Centrifuge TA research projects Webpages on Networking Activities Introduction European Integration Experimental Database Telepresence Distributed Testing Lab Qualification...38 vii

10 4.7 External links Webpages on Joint Research Activities Introduction Novel Actuators Sensing, Data Processing and Modelling Testing for SSI and Wave Propagation Dissemination Webpages SERIES Web Forum and Data Access Portal Internal pages Plan for the maintenance of the web portal beyond the project end...57 viii

11 List of Figures Figure 1-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the home page (upper part)... 2 Figure 1-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the home page (middle part)... 2 Figure 1-3: SERIES website, screenshot of the home page (lower part)... 2 Figure 2-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the About SERIES webpage... 4 Figure 2-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the Consortium webpage... 5 Figure 2-3: SERIES website, screenshot of the Project Objectives webpage... 6 Figure 2-4: SERIES website, screenshot of the Progress beyond the state of the art page... 8 Figure 2-5: SERIES website, screenshot of the Methodology and workplan webpage Figure 2-6: SERIES website, screenshot of the Transnational Access webpage Figure 3-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the Lab Access webpage Figure 4-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the Networking webpage Figure 4-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the European integration webpage (upper part) Figure 4-3: SERIES website, screenshot of the European integration webpage (lower part) Figure 4-4: SERIES website, screenshot of the Experimental Database webpage Figure 4-5: SERIES website, screenshot of the Telepresence webpage Figure 4-6: SERIES website, screenshot of the Distributed Testing webpage Figure 4-7: SERIES website, screenshot of the Lab Qualification webpage Figure 5-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the Research webpage Figure 5-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the Novel actuators webpage Figure 6-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the Dissemination webpage Figure 6-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the Documents webpage Figure 7-2: Screenshot of the SERIES Data Access Portal Figure 7-3: Screenshot of the SERIES homepage after a SERIES partner logs in. Internal pages and My TA-proposals (for USP members only) appear on the main menu bar ix

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13 1. Structure of the Web Portal 1.1 HOME PAGE The aim of the web portal is to serve as the central contact point for the project and the main reference point for research infrastructures in earthquake engineering in Europe during the project and indefinitely afterwards. The intention of the portal was to offer educational and dissemination material, information on transnational access, workshop details, telepresence in experimental activities, a pool for scientific knowledge (including that generated during the project), information on the qualification of research infrastructures, access to the distributed database, etc. The portal comprises of public pages and internal pages (i.e. accessible only to SERIES beneficiaries and the External Scientific Committee). In the following, public pages will be presented first and internal ones further on. The development process of the web portal focused on the aforementioned objectives and the structure of the portal essentially follows the structure of the project itself. This is reflected in the main menu items at the top of the webpage (see Fig. 1-1): About SERIES : Overview of the SERIES Project Networking : Dedicated to the Networking Activities of the Project Lab Access : Information on Transnational Access Activities Research : Focus on the Joint Research Activities of the project Dissemination : Presentations and information from the project workshops and training courses, important documents including all public deliverables, Joint brochure on TA activities. Forum : Access to the web forum Data Access Portal : Access to the SERIES Data Access Portal developed under WP2/NA1 ( 1

14 Figure 1-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the home page (upper part) Figure 1-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the home page (middle part) Figure 1-3: SERIES website, screenshot of the home page (lower part) 2

15 1.2 HIGHLIGHTS, NEWS PAGES AND QUICK LINKS Below the menu bar, a photo slide show with pictures from the SERIES TA facilities is active on the top right hand corner, with the option to switch to Highlights (i.e. most recent important news items) and Map (a map marking the location of all 23 SERIES beneficiaries). In the middle, there is an RSS feed redirecting to the news pages. The latest news of the SERIES Project appear on the homepage, listed in chronological order (the most recent ones at the top of the list). News pages are regularly updated, marking important news related to the Project such as: Workshop announcements, Training Courses announcements, Transnational Access developments, releases of important documents, presentations of meetings/workshops/training courses, important developments in the web portal etc. Right below, quick access is offered to important TA and dissemination information. The subitems, spread in 4 columns, are the following: Transnational Lab Access, Telepresence, Experimental Database, and Dissemination. Towards the end of the homepage, access is given to Highlights, quick links (SERIES Workshops, TA Proposals, Training Courses), a map with the location of SERIES beneficiaries pinned throughout Europe, and the news archive. Essentially, the home page gives a quick overview of what the project is about, upcoming workshops/courses and important developments. 3

16 2. Project Overview Webpages 2.1 ABOUT SERIES This page provides a brief overview of the SERIES Project. The aim of the page is to give a quick description of all the key points of the Project, which are then described in more detail in the corresponding pages (links redirecting to Transnational Access, Networking and Joint research are active). Figure 2-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the About SERIES webpage The text on the page About SERIES reads: European seismic engineering research suffers from extreme fragmentation of research infrastructures (RI) between countries and limited access to them by the S/T community of earthquake engineering, especially that of Europe s most seismic regions. A 23-strong consortium of the key actors in Europe s seismic engineering research (including 3 industrial beneficiaries) addresses these problems in a sustainable way via a 4-year programme of activities at an annual cost to the EC less than 1.35% of the total present value ( 190m) of the RIs material resources. The scope covers all aspects of seismic engineering testing, from eight reaction wall pseudodynamic (PsD) facilities and ten shake table labs, to EU s unique tester of bearings or isolators, its two major centrifuges and an instrumented site for wave propagation studies. Transnational Access is offered to a portfolio of world class RIs: EU s largest PsD facility, four diverse shake tables and the two centrifuges. 4

17 Networking sets up a public distributed database of past, present and future test results, installs distributed testing capabilities at all PsD labs, fostering development of up-andcoming ones at Europe s most seismic regions, drafts and applies protocols for qualification of RIs and engages the entire European community of earthquake engineering via the best possible instances: the European Association of Earthquake Engineering, EU s seismic code makers and their national groups, the European construction industry, as well as all relevant S/T associations or networks. Joint research engages all labs, exploring and prototyping novel actuators (combination of electro-dynamic and hydraulic ones) for better control of fast tests or special applications, new sensing and instrumentation systems, data assimilation in equipment-specimen models for better test control and optimisation of testing campaigns, as well as experimental studies of soil-structure interaction at all types of testing facilities. 2.2 CONSORTIUM On this page, the 23-member Consortium is presented (logo of each partner, full and short name of organization, country). Links redirect to the official site of each partner. Figure 2-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the Consortium webpage 5

18 2.3 PROJECT OBJECTIVES Figure 2-3: SERIES website, screenshot of the Project Objectives webpage The main objectives of SERIES are presented in this page: Networking Activities, Transnational Access Activities, and Joint Research Activities, the basic fields of the project, are treated separately. The text on this page reads: This project aims at bridging the two gaps of RTD in experimental earthquake engineering and structural dynamics: (a) between Europe and the US or Japan, and (b) between European countries with high seismicity but less advanced RTD infrastructures on one hand and some more technologically advanced but not so seismic Member States on the other. It will do so by integrating the entire European RTD community in earthquake engineering via: 1. A concerted program of Networking Activities, fostering a sustainable culture of cooperation among all research infrastructures and teams active in European earthquake engineering: A distributed database of test results, pooling data from the beneficiary research infrastructures and others, accessible and maintained by a virtual research community after the project s end; Telepresence and geographically distributed concurrent testing at the research infrastructures; Standards, protocols and criteria for qualification of RTD infrastructures in earthquake engineering; 6

19 Enhancement of human resources by training new users and beneficiary technical/research personnel in courses on good practices in operation and use of research infrastructures; Co-coordination and collaboration with national, European and international related initiatives and support to the deployment of global approaches to research in earthquake engineering; Dissemination to the entire European S/T community of earthquake engineering via all relevant national, European or international organisations, networks or bodies; Clustering and co-ordinated actions amongst related European and national projects; International Workshops and other targeted actions, to integrate the earthquake engineering community of the highly seismic regions of the Balkans and Turkey. 2. Co-ordinated Transnational Access of Users to a world class portfolio combining: EU s four largest earthquake Shaking Tables, each one with diverse capabilities: the TAMARIS laboratory of CEA/Saclay (FR), the EUCENTRE/TREES Lab in Pavia (IT), LNEC in Lisbon (PT) and the Bristol University Earthquake and Large Structures Laboratory (UK); EU s largest Reaction Wall and Pseudodynamic testing facility (ELSA) at the JRC, Ispra; Unique Centrifuge Test facilities at LCPC in Nantes (FR) and Cambridge University (UK). 3. Joint innovative Research toward new fundamental technologies and techniques promoting efficient and joint use of the research infrastructures, in three areas where the beneficiaries excel at world level: Concepts, technical requirements and prototyping for new-generation electro-dynamic actuators (including coupling with hydraulic ones) for high-performance, enhancedquality real-time testing; Instrumentation and sensor techniques for improved sensing and test control. Dedicated software for data collection, processing and communication, serving current needs for model calibration and interpretation of structural response. Use of data assimilation and model updating to develop virtual models of the equipment-specimen system, in combination with recent advances in control, to reduce calibration pre-tests, optimise instrumentation and improve the quality results; 7

20 New capabilities and techniques for experimental study of soil-structure-interaction and seismic wave propagation phenomena, currently insufficiently covered by experimental research infrastructures at world level. 2.4 PROGRESS BEYOND THE STATE OF THE ART Figure 2-4: SERIES website, screenshot of the Progress beyond the state of the art page The key actors in Europe s earthquake engineering research are engaged in the SERIES Project. Moreover, the biggest European seismic testing facilities participate in the consortium, some of them offering Transnational Access for research on earthquake engineering. The SERIES Project provides the framework for progress on earthquake engineering research beyond the state of the art. The corresponding webpage, Progress beyond the state of the art, focuses on this aspect, providing information on the project s main fields (NAs, TAs, JRAs). The text on this webpage reads: Progress beyond the State of the Art : Individually none of Europe s research infrastructures has the critical mass of people and the broad range of experimental capabilities and expertise needed for major breakthroughs in the State-of-the-Art of earthquake engineering: the JRC has a Reaction Wall and Pseudodynamic testing facility unique in Europe and among the largest worldwide, but lacks Shaking Table capability or a Centrifuge Test facility, which are vital for earthquake engineering research. 8

21 Such capabilities are offered in the comprehensive portfolio of research infrastructures mobilised in this project, which includes: Europe s two world class Centrifuge facilities; ten Shaking Table laboratories of diverse and complementary technical capabilities; seven more Reaction Walls for Pseudo-dynamic testing, complementing the one at JRC as satellites for geographically distributed testing and, being up-and-coming, adding to a dynamic map of European research infrastructures in earthquake engineering; EU s largest seismic tester of bearings and isolation/dissipation devices; an instrumented site, with well-documented topography and soil characteristics, as a natural laboratory for site effects and wave propagation phenomena. Networking Activities (NAs): The networking activities of the project will enhance the services provided by the research infrastructures, transcending their current extreme fragmentation, through the following: The creation of a very large virtual European research laboratory, through telepresence and geographically distributed testing at the participating research infrastructures. Wide sharing of data and knowledge across the field of earthquake engineering and between academia, research and industry, through a web portal and distributed database, to be maintained and enhanced well beyond the end of the project. A better structure and integration at a European scale of the way similar research infrastructures operate, developing synergies and complementarities between them and fostering their joint development in terms of performance and access. Common European standards and protocols for similar research infrastructures and qualification criteria for European research infrastructures in earthquake engineering. Enhancement of human potential, by training beneficiaries technical and research personnel on good practice in operation, use and maintenance of research infrastructures and seismic qualification of industrial components and equipment and offering courses to new users on the use of the research infrastructures. Co-coordination of related national and European initiatives, to develop a European approach to research in earthquake engineering. Collaboration with international research infrastructures of excellence, to support the deployment of a global approach with regard to research infrastructures. Co-ordination with, and follow up of related FP7 projects, for synergies. 9

22 Promotion of up-and-coming new research infrastructures, especially in highly seismic but less technologically advanced areas, so that they can emerge in the medium- to long- term as earthquake engineering research infrastructures of pan-european interest. The networking activities will also foster a culture of co-operation between the participants in the project and the S/T community benefiting from the research infrastructures, by engaging the entire European community of S/T and practice in earthquake engineering in the RTD activities of the beneficiary infrastructures, via multiple and very effective means of outreach. Transnational Access Activities (TAs): The project s transnational access activities will use transparent, fair and impartial peerreview process to select talented European researchers with good ideas and provide them access and in-person use at a portfolio of high-performing world class research infrastructures, comprising: EU s largest Reaction Wall and Pseudodynamic testing facility (ELSA) at the JRC, Ispra, Unique Centrifuge Test facilities, the largest in the EU, at LCPC, in Nantes (FR) and Cambridge University (UK), EU s four largest earthquake Shaking Tables, each one with diverse capabilities, at the TAMARIS laboratory of CEA, in Saclay (FR), LNEC, in Lisbon (PT), EUCENTRE, in Pavia (IT) and the Bristol University Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering (UK), and EU s largest Seismic Tester for Bearings and Isolation Devices also at the EUCENTRE. Joint Research Activities (JRAs): The State-of-the-Art in experimental earthquake engineering RTD and the services offered by the infrastructures will be advanced through joint research activities (JRAs) in three areas where the beneficiaries excel at world level. 1. Dynamic testing for earthquake engineering requires high precision application of discrete and distributed dynamic loads, ranging from several MNewtons (e.g. for PsD testing of full-scale structures) to few knewtons (e.g. in small-scale tests in a centrifuge). The 10

23 baseline of JRA1 is the current use of servo-hydraulic actuators for the application of large dynamic loads. Several new actuator technologies (e.g. linear electrical actuators and morphing composite materials) offer the potential for improving the fidelity and scope of dynamic earthquake engineering testing. The aim of JRA1 is to use this potential and position European laboratories so that they can offer users better experimental opportunities through these technologies. JRA1 will conclude with prototyping a hybrid actuation system of linear electrical actuators and linear servo-hydraulic ones to improve their high-frequency fidelity. 2. JRA2 will investigate and then promote, after their calibration/validation in various tests of different levels of complexity, new types of sensors, control techniques and modelling tools capable of enhancing the measurement of the response of test specimens and improving the quality of test control. It will also develop numerical simulation tools, integrated with data processing, databases and visualisation, for improved design of test campaigns, including the equipment and for enhanced interpretation of test results, taking also into account foundation and the soil. The current baseline, consisting of classical few point/local measurements in seismic testing, cannot serve the current needs of Performance-based earthquake engineering which emphasise structural damage. JRA2 will exploit recent advances in optical fibres, optical sensors, wireless communication, Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and information technologies software frameworks, databases, visualisation, Internet/grid computations - to serve these needs and significantly enhance seismic testing of complex structural systems. Remote measurements will be investigated and advanced, for use when direct contact with the specimen should be avoided, e.g., for safety of the instrumentation at specimen collapse. 3. Soil-structure interaction (SSI) during earthquakes refers to several phenomena related to the response of structures caused by the flexibility of the foundation soils, as well as to the response of soils and embedded facilities caused by the presence of structures. Modelling SSI requires not only the introduction of additional degrees of freedom, but often also physical simulation of wave propagation, duly accounting for the non linearities that depend on the induced strain level. The baseline in design, analysis and testing of structures is to ignore SSI: the structure is considered fixed to the ground and the free field motion is directly applied to its base. The obvious additional complication in laboratory testing of a complete structure-foundation-soil system is a major reason why SSI has received very little 11

24 experimental attention and very few results are available for calibration of numerical models. Experimental large-scale testing (large shaking tables, field observations, reaction wall testing) and small-scale testing (centrifuge, small shaking tables) will not only help calibrate numerical methods of analysis, but will also shed qualitative and quantitative light into the nature and significance of these nonlinear phenomena. JRA3 aims at providing Europe s experimental facilities with the "tools" to carry out such novel experiments. 2.5 METHODOLOGY AND WORK PLAN Figure 2-5: SERIES website, screenshot of the Methodology and workplan webpage The methodology and the work plan applied in order to meet the objectives of the Project are described on this webpage. The content of the page is pasted below: Methodology and work plan: The work plan comprises a set of intertwined and synergistic networking, transnational access and joint research activities. The three WPs of networking activities of the project have a two-pronged strategy, aiming at: establishing a seamless and sustainable platform of co-operation between the European research infrastructures in earthquake engineering, developing synergies and complementarities between them and fostering their joint development in terms of performance and access, and 12

25 reaching out to Europe s widest possible community of science and technology (S/T) and practice in earthquake engineering, to spread the RTD outcomes of the research infrastructures, increase awareness of their capabilities and attract users to benefit from them during and after the project. The platform of co-operation between the research infrastructures will comprise: A corporate web-portal, serving as the central contact point for the project and the main reference point for research infrastructures in earthquake engineering in Europe, during the project and indefinitely afterwards. It will provide education and dissemination material, information on transnational access, workshop details, telepresence in experimental activities, repository of scientific knowledge (including that generated during the project), information on the qualification of research infrastructures, etc., and most important, access to the distributed database. A distributed database of experimental information, whereby the data stay at the individual facility and a communication protocol ensures their transfer to the end user in a common language and format. It will contain experimental data and all supporting documentation: data generated by the research infrastructures during the project (transnational access included), past data from the very research infrastructures and from literature (converting them to the database format) and new data uploaded in the future. It will soon become the world s largest source of experimental information in earthquake engineering. It will provide real-time access to data generated during experimental campaigns and on-line access and interaction through telepresence and distributed testing. Capability for geographically distributed concurrent testing at several research infrastructures, enlarging their individual capabilities and profiting from their complementarities. It will encompass all research infrastructures possessing Reaction Walls and PsD testing capabilities, large or small. Compounded with training of beneficiaries technical and research personnel on advances in testing and good practice in operation of research infrastructures, it will pave the way for up-andcoming ones to develop further in the framework of a dynamic map of research infrastructures in Europe. A common protocol for qualification of earthquake engineering research infrastructures in Europe. Europe s S/T and professional earthquake engineering community will be fully engaged, via: the European Association of Earthquake Engineering (through KOERI); 13

26 the CEN Subcommittee for drafting and maintaining the European Standard for seismic design; the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP); the European Earthquake Protection Initiative (EEPI); the International Federation for Structural Concrete, fib; the project s four international open Workshops, organised in seismic South-Eastern Europe liaison with relevant national and international networks. Seven WPs of transnational access to a world-class portfolio of complementary facilities, namely to EU s largest reaction wall and PsD lab, its four largest shake tables, its two largest centrifuges and the largest seismic tester of bearings, will be offered free of charge, along with the full infrastructural, logistical, technological and scientific support. Users of access will be attracted, selected and trained through the networking activities; they will also disseminate their RTD results to the widest possible audience through them. Tests conducted during transnational access will systematically use telepresence and on a pilot basis distributed testing, both established in the networking activities. More important, it is mostly in such tests that new techniques to be developed by the project s joint research activities will be tried on a pilot basis, calibrated and validated. Fundamental technologies or techniques for efficient and joint use of the research infrastructures will be promoted in three WPs of joint research activities in areas of worldexcellence of the beneficiaries: Concepts, requirements and prototyping of new-generation electro-dynamic actuators (including coupling with hydraulic ones) for high-performance, high-quality real-time testing. New instrumentation and sensing techniques for improved test control and measurement at high frequencies; dedicated software for data collection, processing and communication for distributed testing and simulation at virtual facilities integrating different infrastructures. New capabilities and techniques for experimental study of soil-structure-interaction and seismic wave propagation phenomena, currently insufficiently covered by experimental research infrastructures at world level. 14

27 2.6 TRANSNATIONAL ACCESS (OVERVIEW) Figure 2-6: SERIES website, screenshot of the Transnational Access webpage Transnational Access Activities are one of the key features of SERIES. Talented young researchers were given the opportunity to access world-class experimental facilities and produce high-end research on seismic engineering. This webpage gives a short overview of the Transnational Access activities and provides links to the portal pages that present TA in more detail. It reads: Transnational Access (TA) to a portfolio of world class research infrastructures is offered to selected talented European researchers. Users are given access to the infrastructures for the design of the test specimen and the instrumentation, for the execution of the tests and for the processing and interpretation of results. The facilities available for Transnational Access include shaking tables, reaction walls, centrifuge infrastructures and bearing tester system. Users are integrated into the scheduling of the infrastructure during the execution programme of each project, from the design and construction of the test specimen, to instrumentation, experimental testing and interpretation of the experimental results, receiving from the staff of the infrastructure all the technical and scientific support needed to carry out their project. A user support team is allocated to each user on a daily basis, to develop and execute the test programme, including appropriate technicians for test model fabrication, instrumentation, etc. Prospective users are advised to consult the open calls for proposals about the availability of TA infrastructures. The lead user and the majority of the users in a 15

28 team should be working in an institution in a EU Member State or EU Associated country, but other than the one where the TA facility is established. The User Selection Panel has selected 27 TA Research projects according to specific criteria. 16

29 3. Transnational Access Webpages 3.1 INTRODUCTION Figure 3-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the Lab Access webpage. This part of the web portal is dedicated to the Transnational Access opportunities offered within the framework of the SERIES Project. It was essential to have this page ready from the beginning of the Project in order to inform prospective users about TA opportunities and modalities. The webpages under the main menu item Lab Access give important information on the benefits of Transnational Access through SERIES, explaining the procedure for submitting a proposal, the evaluation process and the User Selection Panel evaluation criteria. A quick overview of the seven facilities offering Transnational Access is also provided (with a direct link to the website of each respective facility, for further information). An overview of important information related to the 27 selected TA projects is also presented. 3.2 LAB ACCESS The text on this page reads: 17

30 Transnational Access (TA) to a portfolio of world class research complementary infrastructures is offered to selected talented European researchers. Users are given access to the infrastructures for the design of the test specimen and the instrumentation, for the execution of the tests and for the processing and interpretation of results. The lead user and the majority of the users in a team work in an institution in a EU Member State or EU Associated country, but other than the one where the TA facility is established. The following facilities offer Transnational Access: the AZALEE shaking table, Saclay, France; the reaction wall of the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment, Ispra, Italy; the shaking table and bearing tester system at EUCENTRE, Pavia, Italy; the shaking table of the Earthquake and Large Structures Laboratory (EQUALS), Bristol, UK; the large 3D shake table at LNEC, Lisbon, Portugal; the IFSTTAR geotechnical centrifuge, Nantes, France; the Turner Beam Centrifuge, Cambridge, UK. Users are integrated into the scheduling of the infrastructure during the execution programme of each project, from the design and construction of the test specimen, to the instrumentation, experimental testing and interpretation of experimental results, receiving from the staff of the infrastructure all the support needed to carry out their project. A user support team is allocated to each user on a daily basis, to develop and execute the test programme, including appropriate technicians for test model fabrication, instrumentation, etc. The infrastructure facilities are well prepared to host external researchers. During their stay, external researcheres are integrated with the permanent staff, from whom they receive technical and scientific assistance. Following the necessary training, users are able to fully participate in the test preparation, execution, data acquisition and interpretation. The services that are given to users having access to the shaking table (ST), bearing tester system (BTS), reaction wall (RW) and centrifuge (CG) infrastructures are: technical assistance in the definition and design of the test model and of the experimental set-up, in order to adapt the testing programme to the characteristics of the infrastructure; fabrication of reduced (ST) to full (RW) scale test models; 18

31 preliminary destructive or non destructive tests for material properties identification of the test model (ST, BTS and RW) and of the soil models used in the centrifuges (CG); preparation of the models using automatic controlled sand pouring (EQUALS); assistance in the design, calibration and implementation of the instrumentation, providing, within the availability constraints of the sensor stock of the infrastructure, state-of-the-art sensors, materials and components and the workmanship for their installation; data acquisition systems; assistance in the choice of the input signals; use of analytical tools to support the design of the specimen and test campaign; photographic and video records of the test model before, during and after the test campaign; photogrammetric techniques (at the development stage) for tracing deformations of structures (currently available only at the TAMARIS and ELSA infrastructures); a computer network with access to large computer codes for static and dynamic analysis of structures at the ST, BTS and RW infrastructures; a data repository system accessible via Internet; training of users in topics specific to their interest and to the project to which access is offered, in areas related to the experimental activities of the infrastructure; opportunity to collaborate with the international beneficiaries of the infrastructure; safety training of users; data processing, analysis and interpretation of the test results. Read more about the current TA Research projects. Prospective users are invited to consult the open calls for proposals, in the news category, for updated information on the availability. Read more about the submission procedure of TA Proposals. 3.3 TA PROPOSALS (SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION PROCEDURE) The aim of this page was to guide prospective TA user teams on how to submit TA proposals. A template for the proposal submission and the possibility to submit proposals online were available for as long as there were open calls. To avoid confusion, after the 5 th and last User Selection Panel meeting (all TA facilities were fully booked by that point) the template and online submission tool were removed and a relevant announcement was posted at the top of 19

32 the page. Information on the evaluation criteria and the weight of each criterion is still explicitly presented in a tabular form. The current content of this page is pasted below (to read the previous version, see Deliverable D1.1): Important update (Aug. 2012): All facilities offering Transnational Access are fully booked until the end of SERIES. There is no availability for the submission of new proposals. Submitted TA proposals were evaluated according to the following procedure: Proposals for Transnational Access were submitted through this website using a common template. The lead user and the majority of the users of a proposal were required to work in an institution in a EU Member State or EU Associated country, but other than the one where the TA facility is established. Prospective users first applied for an account and submitted their proposal after the activation of the account. Prospective users included in their proposal the following: brief description of proposed research; user organisations (main user, partner users) including CVs of principal investigator and of other researchers; appropriate Transnational Access facility (1st and 2nd choice); total number of researchers in Transnational Access; target schedule; a slide presentation with the main points of the proposal (4-5 slides according to a common template). The submitted proposals were graded according to the following criteria and corresponding weights: Criterion for Selection* Weight (%) Fundamental Scientific and Technical value and interest 10 Originality and innovation 9 Quality of proposing team(s), Number of users 9.5 Importance for public safety 7 Importance for European standardisation 7 20

33 Importance for European integration and cohesion 6 Importance for sustainable growth 5.5 Importance for European competitiveness 7.5 Importance and relevance to TA facility s own S/T interests 8.5 Synergies and complementarities with other TA tests 5.5 Cost and feasibility according to TA facility 10 Previous use of TA facility by any in the user group 7.5 Availability of similar infrastructures in any of the users' countries 7 100% *A minimum average grade of 6 per criterion was required for acceptance Acceptance depended on the access days available at each facility. Successful user teams signed a contract agreement with the corresponding facility, delineating the test program and the specimen(s), estimating the length of user stays at the facility and the days of use. The facility determined at a later stage in more detail the access days and the technical program, after consulting the user. It is an obligation of the users to publish the knowledge generated, first in interim and public final reports and then in Journal or Conference papers. The contract defines the rights and obligations of the facility and the users, including provisions for early termination. Contact persons: M. N. Fardis, S. Bousias, D. Biskinis, G. Tsionis 3.4 OVERVIEW OF THE FACILITIES OFFERING TRANSNATIONAL ACCESS The seven SERIES beneficiaries that participate in the TA activities provide access to some of the best experimental facilities in the world. Each TA facility has a separate webpage on the SERIES portal, giving an overview of the facility capabilities and modalities. Direct links to the official sites of the facilities are also provided. The text of each respective TA facility webpage is pasted below: AZALEE Shaking Table The TAMARIS infrastructure and its main shaking table AZALEE, to which access is offered, belong to CEA s Seismic Laboratory. The infrastructure s equipment has been upgraded recently, by installing a new digital controller for AZALEE. 21

34 The AZALEE shaking table, with 100t allowable model mass, is the largest shaking table in Europe. To date, tests with masses up to 92t have been successfully performed. The shaking table is 6mx6m and 6 Degrees-of-Freedom (DoF), allowing testing specimens under independent excitations of various types: sinusoidal, random, shock and time-history with 0 to 100 Hz frequency ranges. Maximum accelerations of 1g and 2g in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, can be applied to specimens with the maximum payload of the table. The peak velocity of the shaking table is 1m/s, peak displacements are ±0.125 m and ±0.1 m in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. The services offered to users that make the infrastructure unique include a team of about 20 expert scientists and technicians working in earthquake engineering RTD projects, the possibility for substructuring, a high quality control and acquisition system allowing recording 256 channels, and a scientific computing and processing system (CAST3M) for the definition and execution of tests and subsequent interpretation of results. The areas of research supported by the infrastructure cover a variety of experimental and analytical RTD projects, both in the nuclear and non nuclear fields, for equipment, buildings and soil-structure interaction; both new and existing structures are addressed. Assessment and retrofitting of existing buildings and equipment are of special interest for the laboratory EQUALS Shaking Table The Earthquake and Large Structures Laboratory (EQUALS) is part of the Bristol Laboratories for Advanced Dynamics Engineering (BLADE) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bristol, UK. It houses a 15t capacity, 6 DoF earthquake shaking table surrounded by a strong floor and adjacent strong walls up to 15m high. The shaking table consists of a stiff 3mx3m platform, weighing 3.8 tonnes, with a regular grid of M12 bolt holes for attaching to the platform body and for mounting of specimens. The platform can accelerate horizontally up to 3.7g with no payload and 1.6g with a 10t payload. Corresponding vertical accelerations are 5.6g and 1.2g respectively. Peak velocities are 1 m/s in all translational axes, with peak displacements of ±0.15 m. The shaking table is accompanied by a set of 40 servo-hydraulic actuators that can be configured to operate in conjunction with the shaking table, strong floor and reaction walls, providing a highly adaptable dynamic test facility that can be used for a variety of earthquake and dynamic load tests. 22

35 Hydraulic power for the shaking table is provided by a set of six shared, variable volume hydraulic pumps, providing up to 900 lt/min at a working pressure of 205 bar. The maximum flow capacity can be increased to around 1200 lt/min for up to 16 seconds at times of peak demand with the addition of extra hydraulic accumulators. A special feature of the EQUALS facility is its digital control system, with world leading features, including a hybrid test capability (also known as dynamic sub-structuring ) in which part of the structural system of interest can be emulated by a numerical model embedded in the digital control system, while only a sub-component need be tested physically. Extensive instrumentation is available, including 256 data acquisition channels. EQUALS has particular expertise in seismic testing of geotechnical problems. The facility is equipped with two lamellar, flexible, shear boxes for geomechanics testing. One of these is 6m-long, 1.5m-deep and 1m-wide; the other is 1.5m-long, 1m-deep and 1m-wide. The EQUALS facility is supported by a multi-disciplinary group of academics specialising in advanced dynamics and materials from across the Civil, Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, and Non-linear Dynamics fields, providing to users day-to-day support, specimen fabrication and manufacturing, as well as shaking table operation, electronics and instrumentation support. The Faculty has an extensive manufacturing workshop equipped with numerically controlled machines, etc. The research based on the EQUALS shaking table includes the response of cable-stayed bridges, soil-structure interaction, the use of discrete damping elements in building structures, base isolation systems, torsional response of buildings, masonry structures, steel and concrete buildings, multiple-support excitation, travelling earthquake wave effects, nonlinear self-aligning structures, dams, reservoir intake towers, retaining walls and strengthening systems with advanced composites. EQUALS is particularly suited to testing of small- to medium-sized specimens in order to investigate fundamental dynamic and seismic phenomena. EQUALS is sometimes used to develop a large-scale experimental campaign that will be executed on a bigger shaking table, such as those at CEA Saclay or LNEC Lisbon. The shaking table can be augmented by additional actuators, to enable multiple-support excitation or travelling wave effects to be explored EUCENTRE Shaking Table & Bearing Tester The activities of the EUCENTRE benefit from one of the most advanced laboratories in the world (TREES Lab Laboratory for Training and Research in Earthquake Engineering and 23

36 Seismology). The testing facilities available at the EUCENTRE TREES Lab consist of a large unidirectional high performance shake table, a reaction system composed of two L-shaped reaction walls and a strong floor and an advanced high performance bearing tester system. The main specifications of the experimental facilities to which access will be offered are as follows: Shake table: Single degrees-of-freedom (uniaxial); 5.6mx7.0m in plan; payload range 70 to 140 tonnes, peak displacement ±500 mm; peak velocity 2.2m/sec; peak acceleration with maximum payload 1.8g; maximum force 2100 kn; maximum overturning moment capacity 4000 knm (1000 kn at 4 m from the base); digital control, reaction mass of 2350 tonnes. Bearing Tester System: composed of a reaction frame, 4 degrees-of-freedom table and 11 actuators to control dynamically the table. Main performance characteristics are: force capacity 2100kN horizontal and 5000kN vertical and displacement capacity ±580mm horizontal and ±75mm vertical, digital customized control. The bearing tester system shares part of the hydraulic system with the ST and can be physically connected with the shaking table to enhance its dynamic performance. Hydraulic Power System: propulsion of actuators is provided by a mixed system comprising eight pumps for a total continuous flow of 1360 lt/min and by seven groups of accumulators capable of increasing the total flow to lit/min when running dynamic tests on the shake table and up to lit/min when used with the BTS. Outdoor flat concrete plate: (11mx28m) for specimen fabrication and demolition after testing and transportation system (customised steel crane) with 110 ton payload capacity. Data Acquisition System: it includes a 250-channel system based on 18 bit hardware and an advanced wireless system based on 8 high definition digital cameras. Access to the shaking table will be given to projects focused on seismic risk reduction involving dynamic studies on scaled or real scale structures, using concrete, masonry, steel or wooden prototypes. Alternatively, tests can be performed on subassemblies or parts of structures whose behaviour can be conveniently and separately investigated from the whole structure. Users interested in shake table control issues may submit proposals for software implementation, development and testing. Access to the Bearing Tester System will be given for cyclic static or dynamic seismic tests on bearings and seismic isolation devices, performance assessment and prototype study and development. User activities can be oriented to traditional devices (rubber bearings, 24

37 dampers, pots, etc.) or to innovative devices, such as those based on pendulum (FPS, friction pendulum system with single and double curvature), magneto-rheological, etc JRC Reaction Wall The European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA) operates a 16 m-tall, 21 m- long reaction long, with two reaction platforms of total surface 760 m2 that allow testing real scale structural models on both sides of the wall. The laboratory is equipped with 20 actuators with capacities between 0.25 and 3 MN and strokes between ±0.25 and ±1.0 m. The hydraulic equipment is capable of delivering a flow of 1500 lt/min at a pressure of 210 bar. The control system of the actuators allows development of different control and time stepping strategies; for example, the continuous pseudo-dynamic test method with substructuring, that permits testing elements of a large structure (such as a multi-span bridge), bidirectional testing of multi-storey buildings (allowing simulation of torsional response), and testing of strain-rate dependent devices (isolators or dissipaters) with substructuring. Concerning the actual performance of experimental tests, the ELSA facility will offer the use of the PsD method with substructuring techniques for the simulation of the seismic action on large-scale structural systems, as well techniques for modal assessment and system identification. The services offered to users that make the ELSA infrastructure unique include the competence and critical mass of its computational mechanics team; important links of collaboration established with the main research institutions outside Europe (USA, Japan, Taiwan, etc.) in earthquake engineering; and a comprehensive database containing the experimental data generated by the infrastructure and already used for calibration and adoption of European standards, mitigation of seismic risk for existing structures and preservation of cultural heritage buildings IFSTTAR Centrifuge The IFSTTAR geotechnical centrifuge has a capacity to place a 2 tonnes model at a centrifuge acceleration of 100g. Its radius is 5.5 m and the platform of the swinging basket that supports the model is 1.4mx1.1m. Many different devices have been developed for the preparation and characterisation of the soil beds (automatic hopper, consolidometers, on-board Cone Penetration Test (CPT) and Vane test devices), for applying forces on the model during flight (actuators for loading 25

38 the models, electromagnetic hammer), and for measurements and observation (sensors, data acquisition systems, transparent face container, cameras, etc.). For earthquake simulation tests, a shaking table set is added in the basket of the centrifuge so that a horizontal acceleration simulating the bedrock acceleration during the earthquake is superimposed to the static vertical centrifuge acceleration modelling the gravity. The major characteristics of this device are: maximum payload mass: 400 kg including the soil box (~ 120 kg); maximum centrifuge acceleration: 80g; maximum horizontal acceleration: 0.5 g prototype (for example 20g at 40 g gravity, 40 g at 80 g gravity); maximum velocity: 1 m/s; frequency range in broad band earthquake ( real earthquakes ): 30 to 300 Hz. The services currently offered to users of the infrastructure include the competence of a 25 year old research team in centrifuge testing, the design of the experimental approach and of the experimental set up, the soil preparation and the model manufacturing (either within IFSTTAR capacities or through subcontracting) LNEC Shaking Table The Earthquake Engineering Research Centre (NESDE) at LNEC has a large 3D shake table (LNEC-3G) located in a large testing hall with floor-to-ceiling height of 10m, enabling testing of tall structures. An overhead crane with 400kN capacity allows transportation of large specimens inside the testing hall, optimising the use of the facility concerning repeated cycles of construction, installation and removal of large specimens from the table. LNEC-3G has three independent translational DoFs, with rotational ones minimised via a torque tube system. Under the horizontal cranks, passive gas actuators may enable peak velocities up to 0.7 m/s. The command and control of the shake table is fully digital, simulating specific motions expressed either as response spectra or as time-histories. The acquisition system, allows up to 154 channels for measuring pressures, forces, accelerations, displacements (LVDTs and optical), strains, etc. LNEC s current 3D shake table was designed specifically for testing civil engineering structures and components up to collapse or ultimate limit states. A special feature is its capacity in terms of payload (specimen weight 40 t), allowing testing of small real scale 26

39 buildings (1-storey, 3D concrete frames have been tested) or larger buildings at smaller scales (bridge piers and 4-storey buildings have been tested at 1:3 scale). The 3D shake table is surrounded by three stiff reaction walls able to support large horizontal forces, allowing seismic testing with substructuring by introducing additional actuators between the reaction walls and the model to simulate the dynamic reaction of a linear substructure on the model being tested on the shaking table. The external users of the LNEC facility may count on the collaboration of LNEC staff, which plays an important role in all phases of the experimental studies. Staff comprises senior research officers, assistant researchers, doctoral students and technicians, working in a multidisciplinary environment characterised by an important experience in research in the different fields of earthquake engineering, both at national and European level Turner Beam Centrifuge The Turner Beam Centrifuge facility at Cambridge has a balanced beam configuration that can carry a payload of 1 tonne and can accelerate it to 150g s (150 g-ton machine). The working radius of the centrifuge is m and the platform dimensions are approximately 1.0mx0.95m. The earthquake actuation system on the centrifuge is the Stored Angular Momentum (SAM) based earthquake actuator. The capabilities of the SAM earthquake actuator are as follows: 100 gravity operation; strong earthquake motions (up to 0.4g at bedrock level); earthquake frequency of choice in the range of 1 to 5 Hz or a frequency sweep from 5 Hz to 0 Hz (equivalent prototype frequency); 0 to 1000 sec earthquake duration (equivalent prototype scale); specialist model containers in the form of Equivalent Shear Beam or laminar model containers; capabilities to model soil layers up to 40 m depth; both saturated and dry models can be tested to enable study of liquefaction or Soil Structure Interaction problems. Foundations of special structures, both on-shore and off-shore, are tested with monotonic loading, cyclic loading or dynamic loading (earthquake loading in particular). The Schofield Centre plays a major role in disseminating standardised methods of centrifuge model making, particularly in the area of dynamic centrifuge modelling. New facilities are 27

40 being developed to carry out model saturation using high viscosity pore fluids that are required to satisfy the scaling laws in dynamic centrifuge modelling. The centrifuge facility has many in-flight and laboratory floor devices that were developed over a long period of time for soil characterisation. In-flight CPT s have been used for in-flight soil characterisation and determination of boundary effects. Specialist calibration equipment has been developed and maintained in-house to guarantee the highest standards of instrumentation for high quality data retrieval. An automatic sand pourer has been commissioned to prepare sand models of specified density and soil stratification. Hydraulic consolidation rigs have been added to the centre s facilities to prepare clay soil samples of high quality with fully known stress history and user desired strength profiles. In addition, the hydraulic slip rings of the beam centrifuge and the electrical slip rings have been recently upgraded. A new fibre optic slip ring with very high bandwidth has been added to enable high speed communication between on-board computers and the control room. This enables high speed digital imaging to be carried out in-flight for the Particle Image Velocimetry for analyses of digital images and the deduction of the displacement and strain fields in soil models. The centrifuge is supported by a mechanical workshop that maintains the centrifuge model packages and makes specialist equipment on a test-specific basis, by an instrumentation workshop that maintains existing instruments and by an electronic workshop that maintains and develops data acquisition systems and signal conditioning junction boxes. Further, a 2D robotic actuator can apply horizontal, vertical and moment loads on structures in-flight. However, this actuator can only be used in non-earthquake tests at the present time. 3.5 TA RESEARCH PROJECTS This page offers a quick overview of important information related to the 27 selected TA projects. The table at the top of the page summarises the distribution of projects per TA facility and the progress of delivered access days. Underneath, the title of each TA project, the number of users and delivered access days, the current status of the project and the host TA facility are listed in a tabular form. Final reports of TA projects and available videos from tests are also provided. Access to the respective webpage of each TA project is possible by clicking on the title of the project (either in the table or the list that appears on the right hand side). All the important facts, updates, the names/affiliation of users, and a summary of the research 28

41 conducted are given for each TA project separately. Links to watch videos, read final reports etc are also available there. Figure 3-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the TA Research Projects webpage (upper part) Figure 3-3: SERIES website, screen shot of the TA Research Projects webpage (lower part) 29

42 Figure 3-4: SERIES website, screenshot of a random TA project webpage (upper part) Figure 3-5: SERIES website, screenshot of a random TA project webpage (middle part) Figure 3-6: SERIES website, screenshot of a random TA project webpage (lower part) 30

43 4. Webpages on Networking Activities 4.1 INTRODUCTION This part of the website is dedicated to the Networking Activities. The introduction page contains a short description of the main objectives of Networking Activities, which are then explained in more detail in the corresponding pages of the submenu (i.e. Distributed testing, European integration, Experimental database, Telepresence, Lab qualification, and External links). Figure 4-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the Networking webpage The content of the introduction page related to the Networking Activities is pasted below: NETWORKING The concerted program of Networking Activities aims to foster a sustainable culture of cooperation among all research infrastructures and teams active in European earthquake engineering. It comprises: 31

44 A distributed database of test results, pooling data from the beneficiary research infrastructures and others, accessible and maintained by a virtual research community after the project s end; Telepresence and geographically distributed concurrent testing at the research infrastructures; Standards, protocols and criteria for qualification of RTD infrastructures in earthquake engineering; Enhancement of human resources by training new users and beneficiary technical/research personnel in courses on good practices in operation and use of research infrastructures; Co-coordination and collaboration with national, European and international related initiatives and support to the deployment of global approaches to research in earthquake engineering; Dissemination to the entire European S/T community of earthquake engineering via all relevant national, European or international organisations, networks or bodies; Clustering and co-ordinated actions amongst related European and national projects; International Workshops and other targeted actions, to integrate the earthquake engineering community of the highly seismic regions of the Balkans and Turkey. 4.2 EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Figure 4-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the European integration webpage (upper part) 32

45 Figure 4-3: SERIES website, screenshot of the European integration webpage (lower part) SERIES promotes the integration of the European Earthquake Engineering Community at European and international level. Information about the scope of this integration and the related initiatives within the SERIES project is given on this webpage. Furthermore, released deliverables on European Integration are listed at the bottom of the page. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION The objectives of this networking activity are to integrate the European scientific and technical community in earthquake engineering and to foster cooperation of research infrastructures at the European and international level. This is achieved by: transnational access to the partner research infrastructures; collaboration with the top international research infrastructures in earthquake engineering; co-ordination with key international, European and national networks in earthquake engineering; interaction with other FP projects; co-ordination of an Advisory Panel for a strategic research agenda on research infrastructures in earthquake engineering; organization of training courses; high-level international workshops. A framework for a structured and sustainable collaboration of the European research infrastructures with research infrastructures of excellence in earthquake engineering outside the EU is established. Exchange of ideas on technical problems, exchange of data, definition 33

46 of common interests and potential topics for parallel research in future, strategies for cooperation, adoption of common testing protocols and data formats will be facilitated by a web forum. Summary Reports with the outcomes and conclusions will be published. The objective of co-ordination with international networks of earthquake engineering RTD is the exchange of information and synergies at the international level. The main aim is to outreach to Europe s communities of S/T and practice in earthquake engineering, to increase awareness of the RTD capacity at the project s research infrastructures, publicise TA opportunities there and disseminate RTD results. Synergy and interaction with other Framework Programme projects will embrace the topics of the definition of the future European seismic testing facility (E-FAST), risk mitigation for earthquakes and landslides (LESSLOSS), novel developments in structural assessment monitoring and control (ACES), the creation of a network of research infrastructures for European seismology (NERIES) and the systemic seismic vulnerability and risk analysis for buildings, lifeline networks and infrastructures (SYNER-G). A high level international Advisory Panel is set up to help develop a structure for sustainable international collaboration of research infrastructures in earthquake engineering. The Advisory Panel will guide and supervise a Strategic Agenda for international collaborative research in earthquake engineering leading to a permanent structure for the implementation of the Strategic Agenda and the management of collaborative research programmes. 4.3 EXPERIMENTAL DATABASE Figure 4-4: SERIES website, screenshot of the Experimental Database webpage 34

47 One of the aims of the project was the creation of a distributed database with experimental results from Earthquake Engineering research that will be available to the wide Earthquake Engineering Community. Researchers can benefit greatly from an improved dissemination of experimental results, which could subsequently have an important impact on the mitigation of seismic risk. Deliverables released on the Distributed Database are listed at the end of the page. The current content of the page reads: EXPERIMENTAL DATABASE The creation of the distributed database aims to improve the dissemination and use of experimental results and to foster the impact of earthquake engineering research on practice, innovation and earthquake risk mitigation. This requires harmonisation and unification of the European databases in earthquake engineering and the possibility of accessing, through a unique portal, the data stored at different database nodes which are able to dialog with the central portal using a common communication protocol. The distributed database will greatly enhance the networking of European research infrastructures by improving their capacity for data exchange, sharing and access, on-line (for telepresence or distributed testing) and off-line (by uploading and/or downloading from a repository). A broad and solid base for the calibration of numerical models will be achieved by enriching the database with data already available with the project beneficiaries or elsewhere. To access the SERIES Data Access Portal (DAP) click here. Further documentation, guidelines and a user manual are provided in Deliverable D2.5 (read below). 4.4 TELEPRESENCE Telepresence is a very useful and powerful tool, which constantly develops. It provides remote users with real time virtual access to experimental data and results during experiments. Earthquake engineering research can benefit a lot from this tool. The aim of SERIES was to implement telepresence to Earthquake Engineering laboratories and create the platform for distributed testing. Released deliverables on telepresence are accessible at the end of the page. 35

48 Figure 4-5: SERIES website, screenshot of the Telepresence webpage The content of this page is pasted below: TELEPRESENCE Telepresence is the possibility to provide to remote users on-line access to the data during the experiments and virtual access to the equipment, so as to allow collaborative decisionmaking on the testing activities. Telepresence will be implemented in all laboratories of the consortium appropriate for it and feedback will be collected from its use during selected Transnational Access tests. Telepresence will enhance the potential of carrying out more ambitious and complex tests by optimizing the available resources in different facilities and will facilitate distributed testing. Relevant deliverables are listed at the end of the webpage. 36

49 4.5 DISTRIBUTED TESTING Figure 4-6: SERIES website, screenshot of the Distributed Testing webpage The page reads: This activity focuses on tests involving concurrent use of geographically distributed platforms (distributed testing), in particular when splitting the tested structures in sub-parts, coupling physical tests and numerical models, and using substructuring algorithms. To this end, there is a need to standardise the tools and protocols used for encapsulating the experimental facilities into a software layer able to exchange on-line information. Guidelines and proposals for advanced strategies in distributed testing and simulation for fast and realtime testing will be provided. Links to deliverables on distributed testing and to the joint E-FAST/SERIES Workshop on substructure and distributed testing (2010) are given at the end of the page. 37

50 4.6 LAB QUALIFICATION Figure 4-7: SERIES website, screenshot of the Lab Qualification webpage One of the project s objectives is to develop and implement a common protocol for the qualification of structural testing laboratories which perform large-scale earthquake engineering tests. The Lab Qualification webpage presents the work plan towards this objective. Links to released deliverables and the relevant 2 nd SERIES Workshop (2010) are provided. The content of this page reads: LAB QUALIFICATION This networking activity aims at creating the conditions and leading to the mutual accreditation of structural testing laboratories specialising in earthquake engineering and equipped for large scale testing. For the qualification, combination of two main requirements on the laboratories is necessary: technical competence and quality assurance. The activity is broken down into the following tasks: evaluation and impact of qualification of experimental facilities in Europe; assessment of testing procedures and standards requirements; assessment of criteria for instrumentation and equipment management; development and implementation of a common protocol for qualification. The final objective of the mutual accreditation is to guarantee the reliability of testing in each laboratory. In reliability implicit is repeatability, i.e., the principle that experimental activities repeated on the same specimen in the same laboratory lead to the same result, within certain tolerances and fixed conditions. 38

51 Besides establishing the general reliability of structural testing in Europe, a common platform for qualification will significantly enhance the expertise of testing facilities, as a result of the continuous benchmarking of similar laboratories. The conclusions of the assessment of testing and instrumentation management procedures will most likely lead to a critical analysis of the requirements imposed by official standardization and accreditation organisations, national or European. It is expected that the mutual accreditation of European research infrastructures in earthquake engineering will enhance their standing with respect to their American or Japanese counterparts, promoting a unified EU policy on acceptance criteria for products and techniques. 4.7 EXTERNAL LINKS This page provides links to the websites of SERIES beneficiaries, international and European networks for Earthquake Engineering, and other FP projects interacting with SERIES. 39

52

53 5. Webpages on Joint Research Activities 5.1 INTRODUCTION Figure 5-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the Research webpage. The infrastructures that participate in the SERIES project offer the state-of-the-art on earthquake engineering RTD. SERIES aims at advancing this knowledge through Joint Research Activities in three areas in which the beneficiaries excel at world level: i) New actuator technologies, ii) New types of sensors, control techniques, modelling tools and remote measuring techniques and iii) Experimental testing for soil-structure interaction (SSI) and wave propagation. This introduction webpage contains a short description of the main objectives of Joint Research Activities. More information for each one of the three research areas is provided in the following pages. The content of the introduction page on Joint Research Activities is pasted below: 41

54 RESEARCH The state-of-the-art in experimental earthquake engineering RTD and the services offered by the infrastructures will be advanced through joint research activities in three areas where the beneficiaries excel at world level. Dynamic testing for earthquake engineering requires high-precision application of discrete and distributed dynamic loads, currently using servo-hydraulic actuators. Several new actuator technologies offer the potential for improving the fidelity and scope of dynamic earthquake engineering testing. The aim is to use this potential and position European laboratories so that they can offer users better opportunities. New types of sensors, control techniques, modelling tools and remote measuring techniques capable of enhancing the measurement of the response of specimens and improving the quality of test control, will be validated. Numerical simulation tools, integrated with data processing, databases and visualisation, will be developed for improved design of test campaigns and for enhanced interpretation of test results. Experimental testing for soil-structure interaction (SSI) will not only help calibrate numerical methods of analysis, but will also shed qualitative and quantitative light into the nature and significance of these nonlinear phenomena. This research activity aims at providing Europe s experimental facilities with the tools to carry out such novel experiments. 5.2 NOVEL ACTUATORS Figure 5-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the Novel actuators webpage 42

55 The development of actuator technology over the past years can offer new potential for the improvement of dynamic earthquake engineering testing. The aim of this joint research activity was to explore this potential and provide laboratories with tools in order to benefit from these new technologies. The page of the web portal dedicated to this activity gives a description of the new actuator technology and highlights the work plan of SERIES towards these objectives. Released deliverables on this subject and quick access to the 2009 SERIES Actuators Workshop are available at the end of the page. The content of this page is pasted below: NOVEL ACTUATORS Several new actuator technologies (e.g. linear electrical actuators and morphing composite materials) are coming to market and offer the potential for improving the fidelity and scope of dynamic earthquake engineering testing. The overall aim of this joint research activity is to evaluate this potential and to position the laboratories in this project so that they can offer users better experimental opportunities through these technologies. This activity is divided in three linked tasks. The first task will produce a state-of-the-art review of the performance requirements for earthquake engineering testing, reviewing current testing practice and examples as well as envisioning new kinds of testing that might be enabled by the new technologies. Information will be collated about the types and purposes of experiment, typical configurations and performance requirements, advantages and pit-falls, techniques for performance enhancement and optimisation, and reference publications, etc. The second task aims at identifying and classifying candidate actuator technologies that might satisfy these performance requirements and then at evaluating a small number of these through desk studies and simple laboratory prototypes. The detailed technical evaluation of the new technologies will be matched with the identified performance requirements so as to guide the assessment of whether the devices could provide a useful extension to existing test methods or offer a realistic chance of enabling new types of test. The next stage will be to select one or two technologies (in additional to the pre-selected linear electrical actuator technology) and to build a simple test-bed for each technology to assess the performance of the system and to identify any problems. The final task foresees the prototype design study for a hybrid actuation system that combines linear servo-hydraulic actuators with linear electrical actuators, with the aim of the latter improving the high-frequency fidelity of the former. The purpose is to understand 43

56 fully the potential of this system as a means of improving conventional actuation systems to meet the requirements of advanced shaking table and reaction wall testing on large structures. A further objective will be to extend the actual control scheme by developing and implementing real-time, multi-processor schemes ensuring accurate synchronization, high reliability, total safety and easy debugging and maintenance. 5.3 SENSING, DATA PROCESSING AND MODELLING Figure 5-3: SERIES website, screenshot of the Sensing, data processing and modelling webpage Earthquake engineering experimental testing can benefit a lot from new technologies on sensors, control techniques and modelling tools. A more accurate and detailed measurement of the test specimen s response can be achieved, thus improving the quality of test control. Relevant released deliverables are listed at the end of the page. This webpage highlights the objectives of this joint research activity; it reads: SENSING, DATA PROCESSING AND MODELLING The main objective of this joint research activity is the implementation and application of new types of sensors, control techniques and modelling tools capable of enhancing the measurement of the response of test specimens and improving the quality of test control. The activity also aims at developing numerical simulation tools, integrated with data processing, databases and visualisation, for an improved design of test campaigns and for enhanced interpretation of experimental results. 44

57 New types of instrumentation (wireless, fibre optics and 3D visualization tools based on several individual sensor measurements or digital video-photogrammetry) and techniques for improved testing control and for measuring structural and foundation response (point and field, local and global kinematic measurements, etc.) will be explored. Experiments at different levels of complexity will be carried out to calibrate and validate the proposed instrumentation and techniques. Software will be developed for processing data from experiments on structures/infrastructures and foundations, for database management and for detection of errors generated by sensors or actuators. Modelling tools, data processing software and databases will be improved with the ultimate purpose of better design of the testing equipment and interpretation of experimental results. Requirements for data generated from physical tests and conforming to the distributed database, will be identified, for calibration and development of numerical models and for damage assessment. These numerical tools will be integrated in a common software platform and system environment. Regarding data assimilation and model updating, the scope is the improvement in design of testing equipment and set up and of interpretation of experimental results, using FE codes, data processing software and databases. Techniques to be employed will be based on data assimilation to identify testing equipment and specimen by combining observational data with the state of the dynamic system. Using sophisticated concepts and updating techniques, a virtual model of the equipment, test facility and specimen will be built. This will allow reducing the number of calibration pre-tests, optimising the number and location of sensors and improving the quality of results. 45

58 5.4 TESTING FOR SSI AND WAVE PROPAGATION Figure 5-4: SERIES website, screenshot of the Testing for SSI and wave propagation webpage A better understanding of Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) and wave propagation is of great importance in order to mitigate seismic risk. This joint research activity focuses on the development of new capabilities and techniques to be applied in experimental studies of these phenomena. The webpage that focuses on this activity gives a description of the work plan and the objectives of the research conducted within SERIES. Links to relevant released deliverables are provided at the end of the page. The content of this webpage is reproduced here below: TESTING FOR SSI AND WAVE PROPAGATION This joint research activity focuses on the development of new capabilities and techniques for experimental studies of wave propagation and soil structure interaction (SSI) phenomena, for surface and embedded structures. The work involves the use of reaction wall, shaking table, centrifuges and field testing in developing the appropriate techniques for SSI assessment and strong ground motion estimation intended for SSI studies. Field testing for assessment of wave propagation and ground motion requires an instrumentation scheme that allows to study radiation damping, complex impedance functions, modification of the incident wave due to the structure etc. For this purpose, a 3D testing array of accelerometers, strain gauges, pressure and displacement transducers should 46

59 be further developed and tested. This monitoring system will be calibrated through tests performed in the Euroseistest experimental facility. A validation of the system will be achieved through comparison with experimental and theoretical results and particularly with data from free field experiments performed in USA and Japan. SSI test techniques for centrifuge tests of shallow foundations on dry sand layers and on layered soils will be assessed in terms of the quality of input acceleration, the response of the foundation and the superstructure and the instrumentation used. Additionally, the data from these tests will be used for quantifying the boundary effects due to the limited size of the model container and for proposing ways in which these effects can be accounted for in numerical models. The last phase of this task will integrate the response of shallow foundations obtained from centrifuge tests as input motion into shaking table and PsD tests of superstructures, paving the way to geographically distributed testing. The results of tests on models including the soil will be used to develop a non-linear SSI macroelement for shallow foundations, capable of reproducing the observed foundation settlements and tilts and covering both cohesive and frictional soils. This macroelement will be extended to dynamic loading conditions and it will be validated against centrifuge, shaking table and field tests. Finally, the validated macroelement model will be used for proposing recommendations for a test protocol for PsD testing including SSI. The aim of implementing the Fast Hybrid Testing (FHT) technique is to enable full-size SSI shaking table tests. More specifically, the following tasks will be implemented: use of laminar boxes in strong motion testing; investigation of the effect of boundary reflections; application of FHT with the foundation and the soil simulated as a numerical substructure and the superstructure as physical model on the shaking table; application of FHT with the foundation and the soil modelled using a laminar shearbox on a shaking table and a numerical model for the superstructure; comparison of the results obtained by the two FHT alternatives; investigation of fault rupture propagation using the fault rupture box and development of a simplified methodology to compute the faulting-induced stressing on foundations and structures. Field testing techniques to assess SSI will be studied to propose the most efficient techniques and to identify the critical SSI parameters. A monitoring system will be used to investigate in real-scale the effects of SSI and of shock excitation on the response of the structures at the Euroseistest facility. The results will be compared with results from 47

60 centrifuge and shaking table experiments as well as from numerical simulation. Finally, numerical simulations will be compared with field evidence in order to investigate scaling effects. The synthesis of the previous tasks will lead to the integration of different techniques for testing and assessing SSI for structural and geotechnical systems. The capabilities and limitations of the various approaches will be examined and recommendations will be proposed on how to incorporate SSI into current testing approaches. Synergies between the various available testing procedures will be sought and emphasized. 48

61 6. Dissemination Webpages Figure 6-1: SERIES website, screenshot of the Dissemination webpage The Dissemination section of the web portal is divided into five main pages: i. Introductory page, which provides basic information about the 4 international workshops and the 6 training courses that took place under SERIES, ii. Documents page, where all (public) SERIES deliverables and links to order the SERIES Workshop Proceedings are listed, iii. Joint brochure page, where the joint brochure on TA activities is posted, iv. Training Courses page, listing all training courses and redirecting to separate pages for each respective one (registration instructions, the course programme, announcements, presentations and videos, statistics on the attendees etc. are posted there), v. Workshops page, listing all SERIES Workshops and redirecting to separate webpages for each respective workshop (the WK programme, abstracts, announcements, presentations, guidelines to register etc are posted there). The content of the introductory page is pasted below: 49

62 DISSEMINATION Four international workshops are planned so as to promote TA in earthquake engineering and spread its RTD outcomes, to foster integration of the European earthquake engineering RTD community and to increase its visibility as a world leader: 2009 International Workshop, "Opportunities for users to access European research infrastructures in earthquake engineering", Iasi, July The workshop aimed to publicise the TA opportunities and capabilities of the project s research infrastructures. One day was devoted to the performance requirements of actuators in seismic testing International Workshop, "Role of research infrastructures in performance-based earthquake engineering", Ohrid, 2 Sep The workshop provided a forum for the presentation of relevant RTD results of TA activities and for the discussion of the progress in the qualification of research infrastructures International Workshop, "Role of research infrastructures in seismic rehabilitation", Istanbul, 8-9 Feb The WK gave the opportunity to present RTD results of completed TA activities and to enhance ties between the Turkish Earthquake Engineering Community and SERIES partners. Concluding Workshop. "Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructures", Ispra, May An international workshop, organised jointly with US-NEES, to present the main outcomes of the project s NA1, JRAs, RTD results of TA projects, and to listen to parallel developments at the international research infrastructures/networks. The WK is dedicated in memory of Prof. R. Severn. Free of charge training courses will be organized for enhancement of human resources and EU-wide integration of methodologies in experimental RTD in earthquake engineering, as well as new users. The audience will be research and technical personnel from research infrastructures. The subjects will include the use of the TA facilities, advances in seismic testing techniques, good practice in operation of testing facilities, maintenance of lab equipment, seismic qualification of products and systems, etc. 50

63 Figure 6-2: SERIES website, screenshot of the Documents webpage Figure 6-3: SERIES website, screenshot of the Joint brochure webpage Figure 6-4: SERIES website, screenshot of the Training Courses webpage 51

64 Figure 6-4: SERIES website, screenshot of a random training course webpage (upper part) Figure 6-5: SERIES website, screenshot of a random training course webpage (lower part) Figure 6-6: SERIES website, screenshot of the Workshops webpage 52

65 Figure 6-7: SERIES website, screenshot of a random workshop webpage (upper part) Figure 6-8: SERIES website, screenshot of a random workshop webpage (lower part) 53

66 7. SERIES Web Forum and Data Access Portal Figure 7-1: Screenshot of the SERIES Forum webpage The SERIES web forum, accessible through the SERIES portal homepage, was released on month 11 (January 2010) with the intention to enable discussion on key issues of mutual interest in experimental RTD and the exchange of ideas on technical problems. All SERIES partners have access to it (same username and password as for the web portal, for convenience) and external users can easily register (see Deliverable D4.6). Regarding the Data Access Portal developed under WP2/NA1 (distributed database aiming to improve the dissemination and use of experimental results and to foster the impact of earthquake engineering research on practice, innovation and earthquake risk mitigation), a 2nd version of the DAP has been designed and developed to match the SERIES Web Portal update, with the aim to provide a similar user experience in terms of visual design, information architecture and interaction. A new access control mechanism has been implemented with two levels of permissions related to public or private published projects. Projects which are published with a public flag can be accessed by any visitor of the DAP whereas projects that are published with a private flag can be accessed only by certain members of the SERIES consortium. A new information presentation functionality of published projects has been implemented embracing two complementary information presentation approaches taken into consideration the hierarchical information presentation of the Exchange Data Format. 54

67 A new main page of the DAP has been designed entailing a quick overview of the available functionalities, including list of recent published projects, overview of the Exchange Data Format and link to the user manual of the DAP. More information on the DAP is available in deliverables D2.3 Preliminary version of Distributed Database and Data Access Portal and D2.5 2nd version of Distributed Database and of Data Access Portal including user manual, documentation and guidelines. Figure 7-2: Screenshot of the SERIES Data Access Portal 8. Internal pages Apart from public pages, the web portal also supports internal pages, accessible only (controlled access) to SERIES partners and to the External Scientific Committee. Internal pages include: 1) user profiles, 2) internal news (meetings, agendas, releases of minutes etc), 3) administrative issues (e.g. timesheets), 4) financial issues, 5) useful documents (e.g. EC financial guides/reporting guidelines etc), 6) pages dedicated to each partner, each WP, the Executive Committee, the External Scientific Committee, the General Committee, and the User Selection Panel. When User Selection Panel members, in particular, log in, an extra menu bar item My TA-proposals is displayed. On this web page, TA proposals submitted to SERIES are listed, 55

68 with the option to sort them by e.g. title, proposal ID, review phase etc. Thus USP members can easily keep track of submitted proposals and keep an organised record of proposal names, lead users, and submitted files (one proposal file (pdf), following a specific template, and one slide show (ppt) per proposal). Internal pages were extensively used throughout the project, especially in terms of keeping track of all meetings, agendas and minutes conducted per WP, as well as of the decisions taken in General Committee and Executive Committee meetings. They have substantially aided beneficiaries to build up a detailed archive of all SERIES meetings and decisions taken from the outset of the project. Figure 7-3: Screenshot of the SERIES homepage after a SERIES partner logs in. Internal pages and My TA-proposals (for USP members only) appear on the main menu bar 56