Advanced Earthquake Engineering Laboratory

Advanced Earthquake Engineering Laboratory

Developing advanced technology for earthquake disaster prevention and mitigation

This laboratory is equipped with E-Beetle, most advanced large-scale shaking table in the construction industry, which is capable of simulating the ground motion during a major earthquake. It is also equipped with E-Spider, the world's most advanced large-stroke shaking table, which is capable of simulating the seismic response of structures during a long-period earthquake. Shimizu is using these systems to focus on research and development on both the hard and soft aspects of earthquake disaster prevention and mitigation technology. This laboratory also provides an earthquake simulation program that helps customers improve their disaster prevention skills.

Types of Testing

  • Basic research on how structures collapse
  • Development of seismic isolation and vibration control system and evaluation of performance
  • Evaluation of the aseismic performance of ceilings and other interior and exterior components
  • Evaluation of the aseismic performance of equipment and machinery
  • Experiencing the shaking caused by an earthquake and evaluating the degree of difficulty in taking action (E-Spider)

Facility Features

Large-scale shaking table E-Beetle

  • Table size: 7 meters (length and width)
  • Maximum payload: 70 tons
  • Maximum acceleration: 2.7 G (horizontally), 2.2 G (vertically)
    * both, with a 35-ton payload
  • Maximum displacement: ± 80 cm (horizontally), ± 40 cm (vertically)
Large-stroke shaking table E-Spider

Large-stroke shaking table E-Spider

  • Table size: 4 meters (length and width)
  • Maximum payload: 3 tons
  • Maximum acceleration: 1 G (horizontally), 0.9 G (vertically)
  • Maximum displacement: ± 150 cm (horizontally), +90 cm/-70 cm (vertically)
  • A cabin (equipped with a virtual reality function) can be mounted on it so that people can experience the shaking that occurs during an earthquake and the effectiveness of seismic isolation or vibration control system.
「E-Spider」

Examples of Tests and Achievements

Seismic test of a high-rise building model
(Input wave: record on Sendai regional metrological observatory on March 11, 2011)
Ultimate performance test of a 2-story reinforced concrete building model
(Input wave: Japanese design-base ground motion x400%)

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