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Buildings & Construction

Structural engineering

News and Updates

Projects and Programs

Building-Level Seismic Performance Assessment

Ongoing
Objective: To better understand the seismic performance of buildings designed in areas of medium-to-high seismicity and to identify ways to create enhanced performance through low-damage approaches, improved code provisions, and improved analysis procedures. What is the Problem? Despite progress
Worker looks over the disaster site at New York City's World Trade Center

Structural Performance for Multi-hazards Program

Ongoing
Objective: To develop and deploy advances in measurement science to enhance the robustness of buildings and infrastructure to natural and manmade hazards. What is the technical idea? The fundamental new idea is that structural robustness can be significantly enhanced by developing reliable
A stainless steel micro tensile specimen in a silicon frame.

Microsystems for Harsh Environment Testing

Completed
Classically, measurement of the mechanical properties and reliability of bulk-scale materials is performed with macroscopic specimens and methods. Specimen preparation limitations, miniaturized load-frame tooling problems, and inadequate understanding of the roles of specimen size and constraint on

Charpy Machine Verification Program

Ongoing
Impact testing is required for many critical applications in the construction, machinery and equipment, defense, and energy markets. Charpy testing provides data needed to ensure the quality and reliability of structural steel products. Over 1,000 machines per year are evaluated for conformance with

Publications