The Friction Experiments
The friction tests were set up and performed at the Seismic Laboratory facility in Richmond Field Station, headquarters of the PACIFIC EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING RESEARCH center
In conjunction with a comprehensive study of the seismic vulnerability of heavy equipment as part of the PEER U.C. Science Lab project, friction tests were performed in order to determine the frictional properties of the contact interfaces.
The floors throughout the U.C. Science Lab are lined with Anderson Vinyl Tile. In order to simulate the actual conditions present in the lab building, a floor was built for the experiment. The mock floor built consisted of a 4’ x 8’ high-density wood pressboard covered with the same 1’ square vinyl tiles with which the floors in the lab building are lined. Tests were performed for:
- Unwaxed floor condition
- Waxed (3 coats) and buffed floor as typical conditions present in the building. Tests were performed after the floor wax was allowed to cure for 1 day, 4 days, and 7 days.
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Waxed and buffed, and ready for testing, the 4' x 8' vinyl-tile floor built to simulate the actual floor surface of the UC Science Lab building.
Three typical heavy pieces of equipment present in the lab building were obtained for testing. The specimens were situated on the mock floor to be tested. A turnbuckle was used on one side of the incubator to pull it. A load cell between the turnbuckle and the specimen recorded the applied force. The displacement was recorded by a displacement gage attached on the opposite side of the specimen (see photograph and schematic diagram of the experimental setup below). The first specimen, a FORMA incubator was tested in June 2002. Two more specimens, a KELVINATOR refrigerator and an ASP refrigerator, were tested in January 2003.
THE THREE SPECIMENS
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FORMA Incubator |
KELVINATOR Refrigerator | ASP Refrigerator |
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Schematic diagram of the experimental setup
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Typical Load-Displacement curve obtained from the friction tests
A wide collection of photographs taken during the course of the experiments can be found in the photo archives
june 2002 series of tests (FOrma incubator)
january 2003 series of tests (kelvinator and asp refrigerators)
