Media Advisory 04-34
Standing Up to Earthquakes
Network of laboratories will rock the next generation of earthquake-resistant structures
A steel-reinforced concrete support for a California interstate damaged by an earthquake.
November 4, 2004
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
From the Pacific coast to our nation's interior, more than 75 million Americans in 39 states live in towns and cities at risk for earthquake devastation.
While scientists are digging into the origins of seismic waves, engineers are pushing the boundaries of design to create structures that remain safe when an earthquake ultimately surfaces.
On Nov. 15, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will host the grand opening of a research network that addresses this important design need--the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES).
Contructed with $81.8 million of NSF support, the system of 15 centers is distributed across 10 states and linked via Internet2 grid connections. Researchers can run experiments simultaneously at any of the sites with tools ranging from building-scale shake tables and ground-altering field equipment to large testing laboratories and a tsunami- generating wave basin.
The grand opening will include live, remote demonstrations from four of the network's research sites, including a test that inflicts the forces of historic earthquakes upon a 10- story wind turbine.
For additional details about the event and its webcast, see the NEES grand opening website at http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/nees/index.jsp and click on the Grand Opening page. (The archive webcast is available at http://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.cfm?med_id=59393.)
Following remarks from NSF Deputy Director Joseph Bordogna and Assistant Director for Engineering John Brighton, the demonstrations will be hosted by Ian Buckle, president of NEES Consortium, Inc.
Following questions and answers via telecom with all 15 sites, guests are invited to attend a reception featuring a live, scaled-down demonstration of one of the NEES tools.
RSVP is required to gain access to NSF. To attend, register with Josh Chamot, NSF Media Officer for Engineering, at jchamot@nsf.gov.
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Who: |
Representatives from NEES sites and the NEES Consortium |
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What: |
Grand Opening of the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) |
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When: |
Nov. 15, 2004 |
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Where: |
National Science Foundation, Room 1235 Media visitors should check in at the security desk located at the 9th & Stuart Streets entrance |
-NSF-
Media Contacts
Joshua A. Chamot, NSF, (703) 292-7730, email: jchamot@nsf.gov
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