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News Release 06-047
Large Centrifuge Helps Researchers Mimic Effects of Katrina on Levees
Part of nationwide "co-laboratory" of earthquake engineering facilities, the technology proves critical for studying soils beneath New Orleans
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Video and other materials showing the RPI centrifuge experiment are available at http://www.rpi.edu/news/levees/.
Credit: Tarek Abdoun, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
A team member lays peat from New Orleans into the centrifuge sample chamber. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers conducted their study of the soils beneath the 17th Street Canal levee in New Orleans using the National Science Foundation (NSF) George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES).
Credit: Tarek Abdoun, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Research team members carefully craft the centrifuge sample chamber that holds the New Orleans 17th Street Canal levee experiment.
Credit: Tarek Abdoun, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Researchers place numerous reference points in the sample chamber to accurately track soil movement during the experiment.
Credit: Tarek Abdoun, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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