Overview

The L.E.D.A. (Laboratory of Earthquake engineering and Dynamic Analysis) has been recently completed at “Kore” University of Enna (http://www.unikore.it/), allowing the construction of a research centre and several laboratories operating in the fields of Structural Engineering and Experimental Dynamics. L.E.D.A. Laboratory is one of the most advanced and unique research and test facility in Europe since the wide range of tests that can be performed. Seismic tests are allowed by means of high performance shaking tables and a large reaction structure, so that the both complementary traditional techniques (pseudo-static/dynamic) can be fully exploited and advanced hybrid testing methods can be explored. The Experimental Dynamics Laboratory is equipped with several devices in order to operate in a very broad band frequency and payload range. Such devices will allow the development of researches in the widest scientific fields, such as civil, transportation industry, aeronautic, energy and defense. The most important research infrastructure is a system of two 6-DOF 4 m by 4 m shaking tables. Taking advantage of the control system capabilities it will be possible to use the tables both separately and simultaneously in order to simulate the effects of earthquakes on large span buildings and on structures subjected to asynchronous ground motions. Dynamic tests on small and large scale models, qualification of innovative control devices for earthquake protections, as well as vibration analyses on large equipment and mechanical systems can be performed. The laboratory is also equipped with two high frequency and high accelerations devices. Particularly, a 6-DOF hydraulic shaker can be used for tests in automotive, aerospace, and transportation fields. Whenever applications in aerospace or aeronautical engineering will require high frequency operative ranges (up to 3000 Hz) and high accelerations (up to 100 g), it is possible to use an electro-mechanical shaker.