Welcome to the RTMD Facility
The Lehigh University RTMD facility located in the ATLSS Research Center (IMBT Laboratory) allowed for real-time multi-directional hybrid seismic testing, combined with real-time analytical simulations, to investigate the seismic behavior of large-scale structural components, structural sub assemblages, and super assemblages (systems). This was achieved through the combined use of dynamic actuators, reaction wall, strong floor and high performance computing. This facility as also designed to support multi-site distributed hybrid testing methods where the substructures involved were at different geographic locations.
The NHERI Lehigh EF website is available at http://lehigh.designsafe-ci.org/. This RTMD website is maintained as an archive for the NEES program and a representation of the RTMD facility. All NHERI related projects, resources and workshop material is located at the DesignSafe-CI website.
News and Events
Building cladding as multi-hazard protection
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
A collaborative research project between Lehigh and Iowa State aims to expand the role of traditional building cladding.
[Read full article]
NHERI Lehigh Seminar Series
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Mariantonieta Gutierrez Soto, PhD, Assistant Professor from The University of Kentucky will discuss Multi-agent replicator control of methodologies for sustainable vibration control of smart building and bridge structures on October 23rd, 2017. See post for registration and abstract details.
[Read full article]
Test to see how special wood structures fare in quakes
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
KTVZ news reports on the Cross-laminated timber project being performed at the RTMD facility.
[Read full article]Project Spotlight
Testing of NEESR-CR: Post-Tensioned Coupled Shear Wall Systems at Lehigh University Friday, November 10, 2014
This NEESR project entitled NEESR-CR: Post-Tensioned Coupled Shear Wall Systems (PIs: Yahya Kurama, University of Notre Dame, and Michael McGinnis, University of Texas at Tyler) is conducting large-scale experiments and accompanying numerical simulations of post-tensioned coupled shear wall structures at the Real-time Multi-directional (RTMD) Earthquake Simulation Facility, the Lehigh NEES Equipment Site. The goal of this NEESR project is to develop a new type of earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete (RC) coupled wall system with significant performance and economic benefits over conventional coupled wall systems.
[View project page]Full-scale, components test of Inertial Force-Limiting Floor Anchorage Systems for Seismic Resistant Building Structures
The NEESR project entitled NEESR: Inertial Force-Limiting Floor Anchorage Systems For Seismic Resistant Building Structures (PI: R. Fleischman, J. Restrepo, R. Sause) is currently conducting a full-scale components test at the Real-time Multi-directional (RTMD) Earthquake Simulation Facility, the Lehigh NEES Equipment Site. The testing of the anchorage system that uses a Buckling Restrained Brace in […]
[View project page]Engineers re-create tsunami debris impacts to measure their force
In a tsunami, devastation is created by far more than the wave itself. Debris that hits homes and other structures plays a huge role in a tsunami’s destructive power. But until now, engineers could only estimate the forces at work when debris, such as a floating telephone pole, hits a house. With support from the […]
[View project page]