NSF flyer - NEES at Oregon State University

George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation
NEES @ Oregon State University
Tsunami Research Facility - Civil Engineering Department
NEES AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
The NEES equipment site at Oregon State University (nees@oregonstate) is
home to the Tsunami Wave Basin - one of the world's largest facilities for
studying the effects of large waves. Hosted at the O.H. Hinsdale Wave
Research Laboratory, the facility consists of:
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a multidirectional tsunami wave basin
a large wave flume
This unique facility is one of the largest at an academic institution worldwide,
and allows the study of tsunami-structure interaction, tsunami inundation and
overland flow, tsunami debris flow and scour, harbor resonance, and landslide
generated tsunamis. The multi-purpose wavemakers also allow the study of
coastal engineering infrastructure and nearshore processes research.
Host University
Facility Name
Department
Laboratory
Site URL
Mailing Address
Experimental facilities at nees@oregonstate are connected to the NEESgrid,
allowing researchers to participate remotely, and supporting collaborations
with other researchers, students and the public. Online tools make it possible
to view live experiments, access archived data, and replay interesting phases
of tsunami experiments.
Major Equipment
The multidirectional Tsunami Wave Basin measures 48.8 m (160 ft) long,
26.5 m (87 ft) wide and a maximum depth of 1.5 m (5 ft) with an additional
0.6 m (2 ft) freeboard. The 29-segment directional wavemaker has a
maximum stroke of 2.1 m (6.9 ft) and a maximum velocity of 2.0 m/s (6.6
ft/s) and can produce a range of wave types, including periodic, random,
tsunami, multi-directional and user-defined waves. Each segment is
equipped with feedback control for active wave absorption. Supporting
infrastructure includes a 7.5 ton gantry crane, instrumentation carriage
spanning the basin width, unistrut imbedded in the basin walls and floor to
secure models, and two 4.2 m (14 ft) wide access ramps. Steady flow
currents can be installed on a project-specific basis.
The Large Wave Flume is 104 m (342 ft) long, 3.7 m (12 ft) wide and 4.6 m
(15 ft) deep. A hinged flap wave board generates periodic and random waves
with a maximum wave height of 1.6 m (5.2 ft) at 3.5 sec. The nominal
period range is 0.5 to 10 seconds, and the wave types include periodic,
random, and user-defined waves. Active wave absorption is available to
simulate the open boundary condition at sea and minimize re-reflection.
Three instrumentation carriages are available. Carriage tow speed is up to
0.5 m/s (1.6 ft/s).
Oregon State University
Tsunami Research Facility
Civil Engineering
O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research
Laboratory
http://nees.oregonstate.edu
OWEN 220
Oregon State University
Civil Engr. Dept.
Corvallis OR 97331
Instrumentation: A large inventory of conventional and state-of-the-art
instrumentation measures free surface (up to 64 resistance-type surface
piercing gages), velocity (up to 12 3-D acoustic-Doppler velocimeters),
pressure (up to 40 transducers 0-5 psi), stress and strain (up to 50 channels),
turbidity (up to 20 optical backscatter sensors), and depth (up to 64 component ultrasonic ranging system). Two modular PXI architecture data acquisition systems are available, each with built-in signal conditioning and antialiasing, 64 channel, 16-bit analog acquisition, 16 channel RS-232 serial
data acquisition, and digital pulse generation. DAQs can be synched to
provide 128/32 channel acquisition.
Oregon State has developed a comprehensive information architecture to
support remote users. The Tsunami Experiment Databank allows the broader
research community to download and compare the results of previous
tsunami experiments. Ongoing experiments are accessed using the Tsunami
Experiment Notebook which offers researchers and students a simple, webbased interface giving access to:
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previous, current, and planned projects
live data and video streaming
experiment replay
project reporting
The Notebook includes graphic layouts of experimental set-up, sensor
information, and a workspace for adding text and graphics similar to conventional lab notebooks.
Revolutionizing our understanding of earthquake effects on man-made structures.
RESEARCH
The laboratory receives over 3,500 visitors annually. Through guided tours
and hands on activities we strive to increase the interest of K-12 students in
math, science, technology and to promote higher education as an option
especially among women, underrepresented minorities and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Through our open house programs we invite the
general public to view our research and increase public awareness of
tsunamis and earthquake engineering.
The facilities at nees@oregonstate are used for research including wave and
wave-structure interactions. Key areas of research are the physical and
numerical modeling of:
• tsunami generation, propagation and run-up in 2- and
3-dimensions with or without breaking waves
• mitigation of current and wave conditions in the
design of jetties, seawalls
• directional wave effects on structures
• impact of tsunamis on structures
Learn more about Tsunamis by visiting:
http://nees.oregonstate.edu/
Outreach Highlight
Research Highlight
The EOT staff at the Tsunami Research
Facility developed a hands-on,
inquiry-based beach erosion activity
designed to increase student
understanding of coastal processes on
landforms. The activity utilizes plastic
tubs filled with water and sand.
Students generate waves by mimicking the hinged flap wave board
motion of the Large Wave Flume. Concurrent research underway in
the Large Wave Flume introduces students to beach erosion modeling
at different scales.
Tsunami Wave Impact Forces on Cylinders.
This project provides
benchmark experimental
data of wave impacts on
cylinders. These data are
important in the developl ment and validation of
numerical models that can
predict tsunami and other
wave impact loads on
structures such as bridges
and buildings. The main
cylinder is instrumented
with pressure sensors and a load cell to measure pressure distribution around
the cylinder as well as the impact of net force on the cylinder. Additional
experiments are planned to investigate the wave impact forces that are
affected by wave scattering and shadowing effects from multiple cylinders,
commonly found, for example, with multiple bridge spans, piers, and other
coastal structures.
INTRODUCTION TO NEES
NEES, the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation, is a National Science Foundation sponsored consortium of 15 experimental facilities working toward engineering solutions to minimize damage
to structures and loss of life from earthquakes. Construction of facilities
began in 1999 culminating with the incorporation of NEESinc in 2004 to
oversee operations and maintenance of facilities and management of
consortium activities.
EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TRAINING (EOT)
The Tsunami Research Facility complements Oregon State’s commitment to
involve students at both graduate and undergraduate levels in projects.
Courses taught in the College of Engineering and of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Sciences relate to deterministic wave and tsunami loads,
random waves and randomly generated tsunamis, nonlinear waves, and
tsunami forces on coastal structures. The facility is a Research Experience
for Undergraduates site for near shore science and hazard mitigation. Each
summer faculty mentors and their graduate students work with undergraduates on active research projects, encouraging students to continue their
graduate education. Many of the students become involved in ongoing
tsunami research.
NEES revolutionizes earthquake engineering research by the creation of a
national network of experimental facilities with shared collaborative tools
allowing remote participation and observation, a centralized data repository
opening the exchange of data and information, and earthquake simulation
software linking simulation with experimentation. These resources are part
of the cyberinfrastructure linked by ultra-high-speed NEESgrid connections.
Together, they provide collaboration and discovery in the form of more
advanced research based on experimentation and computational simulations of the ways buildings, bridges, utility systems, coastal regions, and
geomaterials perform during seismic events.
Learn more at our website www.nees.org.
NEES @ Oregon State University
Principal Investigator
CO-Principal Investigator
Solomon Yim
Dan Cox
Cherri Pancake
Harry Yeh
NEES Consortium, Inc.
400 F Street
Davis, California 95616
tel.: 530-757-NEES (6337)
fax: 530-757-6340
email: [email protected]
Site Operations Manager
Contact Person
Melora Park
Melora Park
e: [email protected]
t: 541.737.6147
NEES Consortium, Inc. is supported by the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for
Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Program of the National Science
Foundation under Award Number CMS-0402490. For more information
please visit www.nees.org