The Large-Scale Structural Engineering Testing Laboratory is available to the civil engineering and construction industry in the Pacific Northwest.
With a large-scale testing facility to meet specific project needs, the facility is often used to perform tests for structural engineering design firms, contractors and suppliers. To learn more about utilizing the Large-Scale Structural Engineering Testing Laboratory to support your project needs, please contact the laboratory director.
Examples of Commercial Testing
The Large-Scale Structural Engineering Testing Laboratory provides unique testing capabilities to support the following regional and national engineering and construction needs:
- Compression testing and/or calibration of hydraulic rams, marine fenders and other equipment and structures using one of three UTMs (110 kip, 300 kip and 2,400 kip)
- Tension testing of high strength bars, bolts and wire rope using a UTM
- Flexural and shear testing of beams, piles and other structural systems
- Fatigue testing of bridge bearings under combined loading
- Dynamic testing of electrical equipment on a single axis shake table
- Fatigue testing of connections, welds, epoxy joints, etc.
- Concrete creep testing
- Material testing for metals, concrete and composites
- Custom testing for a range of loading conditions and applications
Example applications
Compression Testing and Calibration
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Hydraulic Rams
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Marine Fender
Tension Testing and Calibration
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Tension Testing Rods at the Top of the 2,400 kip UTM
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High Strength Rods
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Wire Rope
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Hanger Bars Used at Washington State Ferry Docks
Flexural Testing
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Timber Bridge Stringers
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Steel Pile Couplers
Fatigue Testing
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Welded Bridge Joint
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Hanger Bars Used at Washington State Ferry Docks
Material Testing
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Low-Cycle Fatigue Characteristics of Bridge Steels
Custom Testing
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Plinth and Rail Connections for Sound Transit