A recent assessment of the PEER Lab at UC Berkeley by the International Accreditation Services (IAS) granted expansion of PEER Labs’ accreditation to include three additional tests:
- Panel testing in accordance with ASTM E2126-11;
- Beam-column testing in accordance with ANSI/AISC 341-10, Chapter K; and
- Steel frame testing in accordance with ANSI/AISC 341-10, Chapter K
ASTM E2126-11, Standard Test Methods for Cyclic (Reversed) Load Test for Shear Resistance of Vertical Elements of the Lateral Force Resisting Systems for Buildings – The purpose of this test is to determine the performance of a shear panel to determine the shear resistance for panels for building construction when subjected to quasi-static loading applications. The outcome of the tests is to show that a given joint and frame will sustain a given load. Measurements include displacements, strain, force, and moment-curvature. Items of behavior include the ductility ratio, envelope of load-displacement behavior, hysteresis and energy determinations. The test is for reversed sequential phased displacement loading up to a “first major event” followed by optional degradation cycles and then progressing to higher levels of reversed sequential displacement loading. The test is not conducted in real time but is performed as quasi-static testing to allow for viewing of cracks and other signs of progressive failures.
ANSI / AISC 341-10, Pre-qualified Connections for Special and Intermediate Steel Moment Frames for Seismic Applications, Chapter K – AISC 341 establishes criteria for two types of tests, namely 1) beam-column testing, and 2) steel frame testing. The purpose of these tests is to qualify steel connections for moment-frame for seismic and static applications. The outcome of the tests is to show that a given joint and frame will sustain a given load. Measurements include displacements, strain, force, and moment-curvature.
The three accreditations outlined above are in addition to existing accreditations held by the UC Berkeley lab for testing to these standards:
IEEE693, Recommended Practice for Seismic Design of Electrical Substations – These recommendations include discussions of qualification of each equipment type. Design recommendations consist of seismic criteria, qualification methods and levels, structural capacities, performance requirements for equipment operation, installation methods, and documentation.
AC156, Seismic Certification by Shake-table Testing of Non-structural Components – This standard establishes criteria for a specific input motion, duration, and range of frequencies to which nonstructural components should be subjected.
For the engineering community, the PEER-UCB lab has a long history of successfully providing testing facilities, staffing expertise to execute a given project, and the academic background to provide appropriate data analysis, design input, and overall project management. For inquiries about lab availability and services please contact peer_center@berkeley.edu.