Development of geotechnical centrifuge ZJU400 and performance assessment of its shaking table system

As an ideal experimental simulation method, geotechnical centrifuge can generate the same gravity stress as the prototype, guarantee the consistency of model deformation and failure mechanism between the centrifugal model and real objects and solve complex problems in geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering and environmental engineering etc. Working with a shaking table system, the centrifuge can be employed to study the seismic deformation and stability characteristics under the prototype stress. In view of the scientific values of the centrifuge and shaking table, Zhejiang University has developed one of the largest geotechnical centrifuges in China. The beam type centrifuge has double platforms with a payload capacity of 400 g•t and an effective arm radius of 4.5 m. The maximum centrifugal acceleration is 150g for static tests and 100g for dynamic tests. The centrifuge platforms have overall dimensions of 1.5 m×1.2 m×1.5 m. Meanwhile, an in-flight uni-axial electro-hydraulic shaker has been made for the centrifuge to simulate seismic excitation. Within the payload of 500 kg, the maximum lateral displacement and acceleration are 0.6 cm and 40g. Rigid and laminar containers are used to prepare the model, whose maximum dimensions are 1.2 m×1.0 m×1.0 m and 600 mm×350 mm×449 mm. The performance of the shaking table system of the centrifuge is evaluated through an experiment on seismic differential settlement of buildings on saturated sand.