The shake table platform is a pyramidal structure with a flat top of 3.5 m X 3.5 m driven by three actuators: one horizontal and two vertical. These actuators are of electro-hydraulic double acting culinder with double acting servo controlled low aspect ratio piston type. Each of these actuators is fitted with a 28 L accumulator on the pressure side and 1 L accumulator on the return side. The table also incorporates a preload facility of 200 kN thrust for supporting the dead load of table platform and pay load. The pressure for the shake table is supplied by an electrically driven hydraulic power pack containing an oversize water heat exchanger with a separate oil circulating pump to the oil reservoir and delivering to the actuators a maximum flow of 500 L/min by a variable displacement constant pressure controlled pump of 210 bar. The maximum thrust delivering capacity, maximum displacement, maximum velocity and maximum flow through the servo valve of each of these actuators is as follows:

Research Scholar - Amit Goyal
Supervisor - Prof. Pankaj Agarwal

A new construction technique for earthquake resistant housing is being developed in the Department of Earthquake Engineering, IIT Roorkee. This is based on interlocking of pre-cast slotted concrete blocks with the help of energy dissipation links. These links are prepared by recycling pieces of rubber tyres laminated by very thin steel plates. These links not only restrict the movement of each concrete block is in all possible directions but also dissipate the energy through yielding under extreme earthquake loading conditions. The seismic performance of this interlocked block masonry system with energy dissipator links has been verified under simulated strong earthquake conditions of seismic zone V (the most severe zone) as per IS Code on the shake table testing facility. The tested system withstood this severe shaking without any distress and was found to be in a state fit for immediate occupation even after the test.