Research on Networked Structural Laboratories in China Jiping RU 1) ; Yan XIAO 2) ; Xilin LU 3) ; 1)National Natural Science Foundation of China 2) Hunan University, China; University of Southern California, USA 3) Tongji University, China

Contents Brief introduction of NSFC Motivations and background Two key projects on experimental methods Progress of Key project – I: shake table Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab Future directions Concluding remarks

Contents Brief introduction of NSFC Motivations and background Two key projects on experimental methods Progress of Key project – I: shake table Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab Future directions Concluding remarks

NSFC- National Natural Science Foundation of China Following the role model of US NSF, the NSFC was established as an agency directly under the premier’s office. NSFC is responsible to fund basic research in natural sciences, engineering and management sciences.

NSFC- Division of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Engineering and Material Sciences: 9 divisions Metallic Materials Nonmetallic and Inorganic Materials Organic Polymer Materials Metallurgy and Mining Engineering Mechanical Engineering Engineering Thermophysics and Utilization of Energy Electrical Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering Hydraulic Engineering

NSFC- Division of Civil and Environmental Engineering Funding levels: Major focused project: about 10m rmb/proj. Key focused project: about 2m rmb/proj. General project (unsolicited): average 280k rmb/proj. Successful rate about 16% (2005), following essential similar review procedures as US NSF.

Contents Brief introduction of NSFC Motivations and background Two key projects on experimental methods Progress of Key project – I: shake table Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab Future directions Concluding remarks

Motivations of current research : opportunities and problems Increased investment to higher education by Chinese government has resulted in significant upgrade of structural laboratories. However, there is a trend of low-level duplications and simple import of foreign equipment. There is a significant lack of domestic and inter-campus collaborations.

There is a need to establish and enhance the collaboration mechanisms among researchers and universities, domestically and internationally. Reduce low-level duplication of laboratories and encourage shared use of research resources. Other development in IT industry, Japan- Korea remote collaboration research and the US NEES program offered good examples. Motivations of current research : opportunities and problems

Background USC and Hunan Univ. took initiatives of remote online testing collaborations from Paper by Ru and Xiao (2002) introduced the US NEES efforts and discussed the need of similar studies in China. NSFC workshop in Nov identified the need of launching a national key project.

Contents Brief introduction of NSFC Motivations and background Two key projects on experimental methods Progress of Key project – I: shake table Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab Future directions Concluding remarks

Two Key Focused Projects Proposed in 2003 and funded in 2004: Research on the basic theory for earthquake simulated shake table test (PI.: Lu, Xilin, Tongji Univ.) The networked structural laboratories and hybrid experiment research project (PI.: Xiao, Yan, Hunan Univ./USC)

Contents Brief introduction of NSFC Motivations and background Two key projects on experimental methods Progress of Key project – I: shake table Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab Future directions Concluding remarks

Progress of shake table research Basic theory – concrete simulation rules using fine sand mortar

Progress of shake table research Internet based real-time video broadcast system 3.Standardization and shared use of shake table test results

Progress of shake table research Hybrid seismic test method and technology

Contents Brief introduction of NSFC Motivations and background Two key projects on experimental methods Progress of Key project – I: shake table Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab Future directions Concluding remarks

NetSLab Networked Structural Laboratories Or Networked Scientific Laboratories

Features of NetSLab I.Data Model II.Implementation of NetSLab

NetSLab Data Model: Contents testing results; three types of participants; communication protocols and dataflow.

Three type of participants

Communication Protocols and Dataflow Centralized sequential communication: controller sends control data (called request) to each tester one by one and a tester responds back to controller only after it finishes controller’s request. Centralized parallel communication: controller sends requests to multiple testers simultaneously and waits for their response. As soon as obtaining the responses from the testers, the controller decides and starts next step to send out next round of requests. Distributed parallel communication: controller only sends out the start signals and initial data to certain testers. When a tester receives the partial TR and request, it executes certain action and decides its own action to send request and testing result to someone else. At certain point, a tester may report the results back to the controller.

II.Implementation of NetSLab Dynamic Unified Data Packet (DUDP) Generalized Data Communication Agency (GDCA)

Control moduleObservationOperationVisualizationSearch UniPipe IE / XML data model Data base 口 Equi.Com 口 Dat 口 Core User module IE – Interface Engine

Limitations in Internet Environment

NetSLab’s capability of penetrating firewalls

Option-2, VPN

Option-3, SOAP

NetSLab Applications to date Remote analyses Remote pseudo dynamic testing CFT column (Hunan University) PC pile foundation and pier column (USC) Harbin Univ. of Tech. and Others

Remote parallel analysis and experimentation Testing model

NetSLab- Version 1.02

Testing Concept

Contents Brief introduction of NSFC Motivations and background Two key projects on experimental methods Progress of Key project – I: shake table Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab Future directions Concluding remarks

Ongoing and Future applications Collaboration in a multi-campus international program for remote testing of bridges with hollow steel CFT piers, led by Prof. Tsai at NCREE. USC-Hunan University collaborations in bridge pier – footing – pile foundation response testing. Multi-campus remote testing on model bridge. International collaborations, etc.

Contents Brief introduction of NSFC Motivations and background Two key projects on experimental methods Progress of Key project – I: shake table Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab Future directions Concluding remarks

The two national key focused projects funded by NSFC have helped to redirect the academic attentions to advanced experimental methods. NSFC encourages various forms of international collaborations. Possible mechanisms include: focused or general projects; supplemental fund for existing projects; and international workshops, etc.

Yuelu Academy