Research on Networked Research on Networked Structural Laboratories in ChinaStructural Laboratories in China

Jiping RUJiping RU 1) 1); Yan XIAO ; Yan XIAO 2) 2) ; Xilin LU ; Xilin LU 3)3); ;

1) National Natural Science Foundation of China

2) Hunan University, China; University of Southern California, USA

3) Tongji University, China

ContentsBrief introduction of NSFC

Motivations and background

Two key projects on experimental methods

Progress of Key project – I: shake table

Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab

Future directions

Concluding remarks

ContentsBrief introduction of NSFC

Motivations and background

Two key projects on experimental methods

Progress of Key project – I: shake table

Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab

Future directions

Concluding remarks

NSFC-National Natural Science Foundation of China

Following the role model of US NSF, the NSFC was established as an agency directly under the premier’s office.

NSFC is responsible to fund basic research in natural sciences, engineering and management sciences.

NSFC-Division of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Department of Engineering and Material Sciences: 9 divisionsMetallic MaterialsNonmetallic and Inorganic MaterialsOrganic Polymer MaterialsMetallurgy and Mining Engineering Mechanical EngineeringEngineering Thermophysics and Utilization of EnergyElectrical EngineeringCivil and Environmental EngineeringHydraulic Engineering

NSFC-Division of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Funding levels:Major focused project: about 10m rmb/proj.

Key focused project: about 2m rmb/proj.

General project (unsolicited): average 280k rmb/proj.

Successful rate about 16% (2005), following essential similar review procedures as US NSF.

ContentsBrief introduction of NSFC

Motivations and background

Two key projects on experimental methods

Progress of Key project – I: shake table

Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab

Future directions

Concluding remarks

Motivations of current research: opportunities and problems

Increased investment to higher education by Chinese government has resulted in significant upgrade of structural laboratories.However, there is a trend of low-level duplications and simple import of foreign equipment. There is a significant lack of domestic and inter-campus collaborations.

There is a need to establish and enhance the collaboration mechanisms among researchers and universities, domestically and internationally.

Reduce low-level duplication of laboratories and encourage shared use of research resources.

Other development in IT industry, Japan-Korea remote collaboration research and the US NEES program offered good examples.

Motivations of current research: opportunities and problems

BackgroundUSC and Hunan Univ. took initiatives of remote online testing collaborations from 2001.

Paper by Ru and Xiao (2002) introduced the US NEES efforts and discussed the need of similar studies in China.

NSFC workshop in Nov. 2002 identified the need of launching a national key project.

ContentsBrief introduction of NSFC

Motivations and background

Two key projects on experimental methods

Progress of Key project – I: shake table

Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab

Future directions

Concluding remarks

Two Key Focused Projects

Proposed in 2003 and funded in 2004:Research on the basic theory for earthquake simulated shake table test

(PI.: Lu, Xilin, Tongji Univ.)

The networked structural laboratories and hybrid experiment research project

(PI.: Xiao, Yan, Hunan Univ./USC)

ContentsBrief introduction of NSFC

Motivations and background

Two key projects on experimental methods

Progress of Key project – I: shake table

Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab

Future directions

Concluding remarks

Progress of shake table research

Basic theory – concrete simulation rules using fine sand mortar

Progress of shake table research

Internet based real-time video broadcast system

3. Standardization and shared use of shake table test results

Progress of shake table researchHybrid seismic test method and technology

ContentsBrief introduction of NSFC

Motivations and background

Two key projects on experimental methods

Progress of Key project – I: shake table

Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab

Future directions

Concluding remarks

NetSLabNetworked Structural Laboratories

Or

Networked Scientific Laboratories

http://www.netslab.com

Features of NetSLabI. Data Model

II. Implementation of NetSLab

NetSLab Data Model:

Contents

testing results;

three types of participants;

communication protocols and dataflow.

Three type of participants

Testing Results TR(i, j)

Controller

Tester

Tester

Tester Tester

Tester…

Observer

Observer

Observer Observer

Observer…

Communication Protocols and Dataflow

Centralized sequential communication: controller sends control data (called request) to each tester one by one and a tester responds back to controller only after it finishes controller’s request. Centralized parallel communication: controller sends requests to multiple testers simultaneously and waits for their response. As soon as obtaining the responses from the testers, the controller decides and starts next step to send out next round of requests.Distributed parallel communication: controller only sends out the start signals and initial data to certain testers. When a tester receives the partial TR and request, it executes certain action and decides its own action to send request and testing result to someone else. At certain point, a tester may report the results back to the controller.

II. Implementation of NetSLab

Dynamic Unified Data Packet (DUDP)

Generalized Data Communication Agency (GDCA)

Control module Observation Operation Visualization Search

UniPipe IE /XML data model

Database口

Equi. Com口

Dat口

Core

User module

IE – Interface Engine

Limitations in Internet Environment

Public network

PC-B

PC-C

PC-D

Firewall

Firewall

Intranet

LAN

PC-A

NetSLab’s capability of penetrating firewalls

Simulation of global structure

Control Center PC

Public IP

Internet

LAN

Firewall

Test of substructure Physical Tester

LAN

Simulation of substructure Virtual Tester

Loading facilities

Private IP Private IP

Tester PC #1 Tester PC #2

Firewall

Port 80

Option-2, VPN Server PC

Router

Simulation of global structure Control Center

Public IP

Internet

LAN

Firewall

Test of substructure Physical Tester

LAN

Simulation of substructure Virtual Tester

Loading facilities

Private IP Private IP

Tester PC #1 Tester PC #2

Firewall

VPN VPN

Option-3, SOAP

Internet

LAN

Firewall

Test of substructure Physical Tester

LAN

Simulation of substructure Virtual Tester

Loading facilities

Private IP Private IP

Tester PC #1 Tester PC #2

Firewall

LAN

Simulation of global structure Control Center PC

Private IP

Firewall

Public IP

Server PC (Web Bridge) SOAP

SOAP SOAP

NetSLab Applications to date

•Remote analyses

•Remote pseudo dynamic testing

•CFT column (Hunan University)

•PC pile foundation and pier column (USC)

•Harbin Univ. of Tech. and Others

Remote parallel analysis and experimentation

Dis. increment

Feedbacks

Hysteretic models

X

R

gX

Solving E. of motion

gXMKXXCXM

PC-A PC-B

NetSLab Observers

Testing model

NetSLab- Version 1.02

Testing Concept

Pile:experiment

Column:numerical model

ContentsBrief introduction of NSFC

Motivations and background

Two key projects on experimental methods

Progress of Key project – I: shake table

Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab

Future directions

Concluding remarks

Ongoing and Future applications

Collaboration in a multi-campus international program for remote testing of bridges with hollow steel CFT piers, led by Prof. Tsai at NCREE.

USC-Hunan University collaborations in bridge pier – footing – pile foundation response testing.

Multi-campus remote testing on model bridge.

International collaborations, etc.

ContentsBrief introduction of NSFC

Motivations and background

Two key projects on experimental methods

Progress of Key project – I: shake table

Progress of Key project – II: NetSLab

Future directions

Concluding remarks

Concluding remarks

The two national key focused projects funded by NSFC have helped to redirect the academic attentions to advanced experimental methods.

NSFC encourages various forms of international collaborations. Possible mechanisms include:

focused or general projects;

supplemental fund for existing projects;

and international workshops, etc.

Yuelu Academy