DesignSafe Radio

NHERI’s University of Florida wind hazards facility is one of the world’s largest and most diverse suites of experimental infrastructure. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the UF’s boundary layer wind tunnel is located within the Powell Family Structures and Materials Laboratory. 

In June and July 2021, the DesignSafe Radio podcast features interviews with NHERI at UF facility director and principal investigator Jennifer Bridge, who details the capabilities UF wind tunnel and the research it makes possible. 

In this episode, NHERI at UF principal investigator Jennifer Bridge gives examples of the types of projects the facility enables. She describes wind-tunnel tests funded by FEMA, NIST and NSF that examined wind behavior on topographical models after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, many of which had direct impact on building codes. The facility is useful for researchers studying tornadic loads on residential structures — which are greatly affected by terrain conditions in wind storms. Bridge also describes a novel and super-efficient type of experiment called cyberphysical wind tunnel testing. These sophisticated tests allow for dynamic adjustments of the structure under consideration — in real time. Bridge says cyberphysical testing is the future of structural design.

Related links:

• NHERI’s University of Florida experimental facility
• Video overview of the wind tunnel facility located within the University of Florida’s Powell Family Structures and Materials Laboratory.
• Work at UF helps engineers design structures that enable Floridians to survive extreme wind events. Video interview with UF professor Forrest Masters.

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. 

Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook and Twitter. 

DesignSafe Radio highlights ways that NSF-supported research renders infrastructure and communities more resilient to natural hazards like earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and storm surge. The podcast is produced by NHERI, the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure, NSF award CMMI 1612144. Any statements in this material are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

NHERI’s University of Florida wind hazards facility is one of the world’s largest and most diverse suites of experimental infrastructure. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the UF’s boundary layer wind tunnel is located within the Powell Family Structures and Materials Laboratory. 

In June and July 2021, the DesignSafe Radio podcast features interviews with NHERI at UF facility director and principal investigator Jennifer Bridge, who details the capabilities UF wind tunnel and the research it makes possible. 

The UF facility is a boundary layer wind tunnel, a large-scale instrument that wind engineers use for examining that space on the earth’s surface where the wind interacts with the built environment. As Bridge explains: “We simulate wind loads that structures are going to see.” Inside the wind tunnel, researchers use an automated tool called a “terraformer,” which creates model terrain conditions for subjecting to synoptic (large-scale, relatively uniform) wind loads. Bridge explains the importance of understanding the complex interactions of wind and structural geometry, including how different terrains can affect wind.

Related links:

• NHERI’s University of Florida experimental facility
• Video overview of the wind tunnel facility located within the University of Florida’s Powell Family Structures and Materials Laboratory.
• Work at UF helps engineers design structures that enable Floridians to survive extreme wind events. Video interview with UF professor Forrest Masters.

“We’re able to model different types of terrain conditions. We can do everything from the marine all the way through even urban terrain conditions. You’re going to get different wind profiles for different terrain conditions.” -Jennifer Bridge

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. 

Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook and Twitter. 

DesignSafe Radio highlights ways that NSF-supported research renders infrastructure and communities more resilient to natural hazards like earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and storm surge. The podcast is produced by NHERI, the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure, NSF award CMMI 1612144. Any statements in this material are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

The NHERI UC San Diego Experimental Facility is home to the large, high-performance shake table called “LHPOST.” Earthquake engineers use this huge outdoor facility at the UCSD Englekirk Structural Engineering Center to test the seismic behavior of full-scale structures. In the summer of 2021, LHPOST is in the final stages of a $16.3M upgrade that will enable its platen base to move with six degrees of freedom, simulating the full, three-dimensional range of earthquake ground motions: up and down, left and right, as well as pitch, roll, and yaw. In June 2021, DesignSafe Radio features Koorosh Lotfizadeh, PhD, operations manager at the UC San Diego facility. 

In this episode, Lotfizadeh discusses the evolution and the research capabilities of LHPOST6. This is the full interview episode with Koorosh Lotfizadeh. 

Related Links:

• LHPOST6 upgrade virtual tour - Professor Joel Conte, PI for NHERI at UC San Diego, provides an in-depth video tour of the LHPOST upgrade.
• Research article on LHPOST6 - Van Den Einde, L., Conte, J. P., Restrepo, J. I., Bustamante, R., Halvorson, M., Hutchinson, T. C., ... & Tsampras, G. (2020). NHERI @ UC San Diego 6-DOF Large High-Performance Outdoor Shake Table Facility. Frontiers in Built Environment, 6, 181.
• Details on the NHERI Tallwood Project - Tallwood PI is Shiling Pei, professor of engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.
• Tune in to the LHPOST6 webcams to see construction underway.
• Workshop discussion from Koorosh Lotfizadeh: Example uses of RAPID-like tools in large-scale experimental programs.

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook and Twitter.

The NHERI UC San Diego Experimental Facility is home to the large, high-performance shake table called “LHPOST.” Earthquake engineers use this huge outdoor facility at the UCSD Englekirk Structural Engineering Center to test the seismic behavior of full-scale structures. In the summer of 2021, LHPOST is in the final stages of a $16.3M upgrade that will enable its platen base to move with six degrees of freedom, simulating the full, three-dimensional range of earthquake ground motions: up and down, left and right, as well as pitch, roll, and yaw. In June 2021, DesignSafe Radio features Koorosh Lotfizadeh, PhD, operations manager at the UC San Diego facility. In three episodes, Lotfizadeh discusses the evolution and the research capabilities of LHPOST6.

In this episode, Lotfizadeh discusses the upcoming Tallwood project, the first to run on LHPOST6. This multi-faceted NSF-funded project is investigating the seismic behavior of tall wooden structures. On the shake table base, the research team will construct a full-scale,10-story, cross-laminated-timber building with a rocking wall. Lotfizadeh explains the purpose of non-structural payload projects, which are still available to arrange through principal investigator Shiling Pei, professor of engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

Related Links:

• LHPOST6 upgrade virtual tour - Professor Joel Conte, PI for NHERI at UC San Diego, provides an in-depth video tour of the LHPOST upgrade.
• Research article on LHPOST6 - Van Den Einde, L., Conte, J. P., Restrepo, J. I., Bustamante, R., Halvorson, M., Hutchinson, T. C., ... & Tsampras, G. (2020). NHERI @ UC San Diego 6-DOF Large High-Performance Outdoor Shake Table Facility. Frontiers in Built Environment, 6, 181.
• Details on the NHERI Tallwood Project - Tallwood PI is Shiling Pei, professor of engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.
• Tune in to the LHPOST6 webcams to see construction underway.
• Workshop discussion from Koorosh Lotfizadeh: Example uses of RAPID-like tools in large-scale experimental programs.

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook and Twitter.

The NHERI UC San Diego Experimental Facility is home to the large, high-performance shake table called “LHPOST.” Earthquake engineers use this huge outdoor facility at the UCSD Englekirk Structural Engineering Center to test the seismic behavior of full-scale structures. In the summer of 2021, LHPOST is in the final stages of a $16.3M upgrade that will enable its platen base to move with six degrees of freedom, simulating the full, three-dimensional range of earthquake ground motions: up and down, left and right, as well as pitch, roll, and yaw. In June 2021, DesignSafe Radio features Koorosh Lotfizadeh, PhD, operations manager at the UC San Diego facility. In three episodes, Lotfizadeh discusses the evolution and the research capabilities of LHPOST6.

UCSD’s Koorosh Lotfizadeh explains the shake table upgrade, which will enable itto shake structures with six degrees of freedom.The newly named LHPOST6 can simulate subtle ground rotations, for example, which will provide new insights on inter-story drift, top-story displacements and the behavior of internal building components. Also, the new ability to test vertical motions will enable researchers to see “punching” action by building columns. Learn how the facility staff can help researchers plan funding proposals and testing protocols.

Related Links:

• LHPOST6 upgrade virtual tour - Professor Joel Conte, PI for NHERI at UC San Diego, provides an in-depth video tour of the LHPOST upgrade.
• Research article on LHPOST6 - Van Den Einde, L., Conte, J. P., Restrepo, J. I., Bustamante, R., Halvorson, M., Hutchinson, T. C., ... & Tsampras, G. (2020). NHERI @ UC San Diego 6-DOF Large High-Performance Outdoor Shake Table Facility. Frontiers in Built Environment, 6, 181.
• Details on the NHERI Tallwood Project - Tallwood PI is Shiling Pei, professor of engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.
• Tune in to the LHPOST6 webcams to see construction underway.
• Workshop discussion from Koorosh Lotfizadeh: Example uses of RAPID-like tools in large-scale experimental programs.

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. 

Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook and Twitter.

The NHERI UC San Diego Experimental Facility is home to the large, high-performance shake table called “LHPOST.” Earthquake engineers use this huge outdoor facility at the UCSD Englekirk Structural Engineering Center to test the seismic behavior of full-scale structures. In the summer of 2021, LHPOST is in the final stages of a $16.3M upgrade that will enable its platen base to move with six degrees of freedom, simulating the full, three-dimensional range of earthquake ground motions: up and down, left and right, as well as pitch, roll, and yaw. In June 2021, DesignSafe Radio features Koorosh Lotfizadeh, PhD, operations manager at the UC San Diego facility. In three episodes, Lotfizadeh discusses the evolution and the research capabilities of LHPOST6.

Koorosh Lotfizadeh introduces LHPOST, the nation’s largest shake table. He describes its components, its sophisticated machinery, and the advantages of an outdoor shake table—including the ability to use drones and GPS monitoring and to conduct fire tests. Lotfizadeh explains LHPOSTS testing capabilities, which include LiDAR, soil boxes, and hybrid simulation, and he describes the broad range of full-scale specimens that can be constructed and tested on the shake table.

Related Links:

• LHPOST6 upgrade virtual tour - Professor Joel Conte, PI for NHERI at UC San Diego, provides an in-depth video tour of the LHPOST upgrade.
• Research article on LHPOST6 - Van Den Einde, L., Conte, J. P., Restrepo, J. I., Bustamante, R., Halvorson, M., Hutchinson, T. C., ... & Tsampras, G. (2020). NHERI @ UC San Diego 6-DOF Large High-Performance Outdoor Shake Table Facility. Frontiers in Built Environment, 6, 181.
• Details on the NHERI Tallwood Project- Tallwood PI is Shiling Pei, professor of engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.
• Tune in to the LHPOST6 webcams to see construction underway.
• Workshop discussion from Koorosh Lotfizadeh: Example uses of RAPID-like tools in large-scale experimental programs.

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook and Twitter.

On this episode of DesignSafe Radio, we speak with Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein, SimCenter educator and research associate professor of engineering at the University of Washington. Mackenzie-Helnwein and Frank McKenna, chief technology officer at the SimCenter, lead the popular SimCenter bootcamps. The courses teach programming techniques to natural hazards engineers—techniques such as automating data analysis and performing simulations.Accurate and detailed natural hazards simulations are crucial data for governments to make informed decisions about the security of their city or state.

Please enjoy the full interview with NHERI SimCenter’s Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein. Check out the following links below for more information on the NHERI SimCenter and how you can subscribe to DesignSafe Radio for future episodes. 

“What we really tried to do is to create the sense of community, to create the sense of collaboration while learning because that seems to keep people engaged.”

- Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein

Links for more information on the NHERI SimCenter:

• NHERI SimCenter
• SimCenter’s New R2D Simulation Tool 
• Learn more about the SimCenter Bootcamp
• Follow the SimCenter on Facebook & Twitter

Connect with Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein:

• LinkedIn

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. 

Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook & Twitter.

On this episode of DesignSafe Radio, we speak with Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein, SimCenter educator and research associate professor of engineering at the University of Washington. Mackenzie Helnwein and Frank McKenna, chief technology officer at the SimCenter, lead the popular SimCenter bootcamps. The courses teach programming techniques to natural hazards engineers—techniques such as automating data analysis and performing simulations.Accurate and detailed natural hazards simulations are crucial data for governments to make informed decisions about the security of their city or state.

The SimCenter’s Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein details ways engineers equipped with programming knowledge can simulate earthquake and wind damage—in specific areas, down to the street and building level. He explains how hazard simulations enable policy makers to make informed decisions, using the Seattle waterfront viaduct as an example.

"We tried to get these simulations to a speed where we could say 'we have possibly twenty four hours until the event' and by predicting where are the most difficult zones, where are high damage areas, immediately deploy supplies there, but do it a little bit smarter. Think of Hurricane Katrina, instead of reacting, to become proactive."

- Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein

Links for more information on the NHERI SimCenter:

• NHERI SimCenter
• SimCenter’s New R2D Simulation Tool 
• Learn more about the SimCenter Bootcamp
• Follow the SimCenter on Facebook & Twitter

Connect with Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein:

• LinkedIn

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. 

Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook & Twitter.

On this episode of DesignSafe Radio, we speak with Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein, SimCenter educator and research associate professor of engineering at the University of Washington. Mackenzie Helnwein and Frank McKenna, chief technology officer at the SimCenter, lead the popular SimCenter bootcamps. The courses teach programming techniques to natural hazards engineers—techniques such as automating data analysis and performing simulations.Accurate and detailed natural hazards simulations are crucial data for governments to make informed decisions about the security of their city or state.

The SimCenter’s Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein discusses the type of programming skills modern natural hazards engineers need, and how these skills differ from typical computer science skills.He also explains the importance of “community” when it comes to solving natural hazards engineering problems.

“I think this worked out so well. It made a difference that I haven't seen in any real classroom environment... and I think it created community.”

- Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein

Links for more information on the NHERI SimCenter:

• NHERI SimCenter
• SimCenter’s New R2D Simulation Tool 
• Learn more about the SimCenter Bootcamp
• Follow the SimCenter on Facebook & Twitter

Connect with Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein:

• LinkedIn

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. 

Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook & Twitter.

On this episode of DesignSafe Radio, we speak with Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein, SimCenter educator and research associate professor of engineering at the University of Washington. Mackenzie Helnwein and Frank McKenna, chief technology officer at the SimCenter, lead the popular SimCenter bootcamps. The courses teach programming techniques to natural hazards engineers—techniques such as automating data analysis and performing simulations.Accurate and detailed natural hazards simulations are crucial data for governments to make informed decisions about the security of their city or state.

The NHERI SimCenter has run summer programming bootcamps at its UC Berkeley headquarters for several years. During COVID-19, however, the team was forced to modify its teaching model. Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein discusses the changes —and how the online mode actually improved the learning experience. 

“We were able to do things together online that would not have been possible in person.”

- Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein

Links for more information on the NHERI SimCenter:

• NHERI SimCenter
• SimCenter’s New R2D Simulation Tool 
• Learn more about the SimCenter Bootcamp
• Follow the SimCenter on Facebook & Twitter

Connect with Peter Mackenzie-Helnwein:

• LinkedIn

Listen to the podcast on the DesignSafe Radio website, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. 

Interested in natural hazards research? Follow DesignSafe Radio on Facebook & Twitter.