Beam and Drum Centrifuge

ETHZ, Zurich / Switzerland

Scope

The Geotechnical Centrifuge Center (GCC) encompasses two geotechnical centrifuges, a 9 m diameter (500gton capacity) beam centrifuge and a 2.2 m diameter (440gton capacity) drum centrifuge, a cutting-edge earthquake simulator, a Miniaturized Tidal Generator (MTG), and a variety of actuators, tool platforms, and highly specialized devices and sensors. Our experimental infrastructure is predominantly used for research and teaching purposes. On demand, we also offer highly specialized consulting services to the industry.

Specifications

Image Gallery

krupp-geotechnical-beam-centrifuge — KRUPP Geotechnical Beam-centrifuge

Schematic of the Actidyn on-board earthquake simulator

The geotechnical drum centrifuge with two cylindrical strongbox installed

Tool platform (left) and zoomed-in detail of one of the actuators

Overview of the large-scale triaxial apparatus setup
Loading frame	Enables prismatic specimens, maximum height of 80 cm and cross section 40 cm x 40 cm
Axial loading piston	Hydraulic piston with capacity 100 kN (or 200 kN), max displacement 800 mm
Horizontal loading piston	Hydraulic piston with capacity 200 kN (or 100 kN), max displacement 100 mm, load is applied at the bottom of prismatic specimen
Confining pressure	Confining pressure is applied by means of a partial vacuum, as back pressure, up to 85 kPa
Vacuum system	Down to 850 mBar vacuum available
Confining frames (simple shear)	17 rigid confining aluminium frames with a height of 3 cm each (specimen with height of 51 cm and cross section 40 cm x 40 cm)
Loading frames for direct shear	Upper and lower load frames for specimen installation (each frame with height of 20 cm and cross section 40 cm x 40 cm)
Utility for submerged friction tests	Additional frame to enable submerged direct shear tests
Segment of car wheel	Fixed on the vertical piston to simulate vertical loading by the car wheel
Load control and data acquisition system	LabView based system, internally developed
Workshop	For the design and manufacturing of necessary tools, instruments etc. to be used in the test.

Facility Details - Beam Centrifuge
Name	Beam Centrifuge in ETHZ
Short Name	Beam Centrifuge in ETHZ
Owner	ETHZ
Location	Zurich/Switzerland
Website	Click Here to Visit Site
Contact	Evangelia (Eva) Korre
Head of facility	Ioannis Anastasopoulos
Construction year	2021

Facility Details - Drum Centrifuge
Name	Drum Centrifuge in ETHZ
Short Name	Drum Centrifuge in ETHZ
Owner	ETHZ
Location	Zurich/Switzerland
Website	Click Here to Visit Site
Contact	ioannis.anastasopoulos@igt.baug.ethz.ch
Head of facility	Ioannis Anastasopoulos
Construction year	1999

Why Choose Us

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01.

Certified Experience

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02.

Great Support

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03.

Competitive Price

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04.

We Got The Tools