Facilities

The Centre provides structural testing facilities for a wide range of structures. In addition to the existing testing machines and test rigs, new rigs can be built in the Centre’s workshop to test almost any structure if required.

• Vacuum rig
  The vacuum rig consists of a vacuum chamber of length 21 metres, height 4 metres and width approximately 1 metre. It is used to test purlin and roofing systems under simulated wind loading by sucking air from the chamber. A maximum pressure of 5 kPa can be achieved.
• Pendulum
  The pendulum is used to test structures under impact loading. These structures can include car impact barriers on the sides of roads. A maximum momentum of 20,000 Ns can be achieved.
• Archer testing machine
  The Archer testing machine can be used to apply loads to structures biaxially in the vertical and horizontal directions. A maximum load of 12,000 kN can be applied in the vertical direction and 2,000 kN in the horizontal direction.
• Instron biaxial torsion testing machine
  The biaxial torsion testing machine is used to test structures subjected to torsion and axial force. A maximum torque of 2,500 Nm and axial force of 250 kN can be applied simultaneously.
• Dartec testing machine
  The servo-hydraulic Dartec testing machine is used to apply axial loads. A maximum force of 2,000 kN can be applied in tension or compression.
• MTS testing machines
  The Centre has two MTS testing machines for compression and tension testing. Computers are used to control loading and view results during testing. The electro-mechanical machine (Sintech) has a capacity of 300 kN while the hydraulic machine has a capacity of 100 kN.
• Dynamic testing machines
  The dynamic testing machines are used to apply vertical, inclined or biaxial dynamic forces to structures (such as train tracks) over a long period of time to simulate fatigue loading. A maximum force of 250 kN can be applied at a rate of 10 Hz (cycles/sec).