Large displacement soil-structure interaction test facility for lifelines

Unique test facilities have been constructed at Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as part of Phase 2 of the George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) of the National Science Foundation. This paper describes the experimental facilities, which consist of large-scale equipment at Cornell to test for soil-pipeline interaction at dimensions consistent with those used in the field and split-box experimental devices that are deployed in the RPI centrifuge. The paper describes the experimental plan for systematically evaluating lifeline response to ground rupture effects with the facilities. The paper explains how the large-scale test facility at Cornell is being used to move and place as much as 100 tons of sand per test under exacting conditions of density and moisture control. Soil for the large-scale facility is chosen to be well-graded, glacio-fluvial coarse sand, which is representative of typical pipeline backfill, whereas the centrifuge sand is a fine, uniform sand derived from the glacio-fluvial deposit. The methods for preparing and testing the two sands to have similar strengths and moisture contents, but differing grain size characteristics, are explained. The program for industrial collaboration and use of the facilities for advanced sensor and robotics development are also discussed.