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| MEDIA
ADVISORY
ATTENTION:
ASSIGNMENT DESKS
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05/03/00
Contact: Kathleen Scalise
kms@uclink4.berkeley.edu
(510) 643-7741
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WHAT: |
A
landmark series of earthquake experiments that, for the
first time, will simulate the shaking of a bridge deck in
all directions - up and down as well as sideways - during
a major earthquake. The shake will be done by the nation's
largest earthquake simulator, which is located at the University
of California, Berkeley. |
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WHEN: |
Thursday,
May 4, 11:30 a.m.-12 noon. |
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WHERE: |
The
University of California, Berkeley's Pacific Earthquake
Engineering Research Center, 1301 South 46th St., Building
420, Richmond. |
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WHO: |
Speakers
will be Stephen Mahin, UC Berkeley civil engineering professor,
and James Roberts, Caltrans chief deputy and chief bridge
engineer. |
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VISUALS:
A
20-foot-long bridge model supported eight feet off the
ground on steel columns will be loaded with 94,000 pounds
of concrete and subjected to heavy shaking exceeding that
of the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Steel supports are
capped with "friction pendulum sliding bearings" intended
to protect the bridge from damage. This seismic protection
system, invented by UC Berkeley alumnus Victor Zayas,
has been used in the new Benicia-Martinez bridge, at San
Francisco International Airport and in other recent construction
in California.
NOTE:
For
further information about the event, contact the Earthquake
Engineering Research Center at (510) 231-9401, Stephen
Mahin at (510) 642-4021 and, at the California Department
of Transportation, Jim Drago, (916) 654-4677, or Angela
Blanchette, (510) 286-7397. The demonstration is not open
to the public, but reporters are welcome.
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