Seismic Testing

The International Standard ISO 15835-1 contains an option for the specification for the performance of mechanical splices according to two different seismic simulation tests:

S1 for simulation of moderate seismic loading. Twenty stress cycles are applied to the splice from 0.5 times the yield stress in compression to 0.9 times the yield stress in tension, followed by tensile loading to failure. The displacement across the joint is continuously measured, and the displacement after 20 stress cycles is measured.

S2 for simulation of severe seismic loading. The joint is loaded to two times the yield strain, and then unloaded to 0.5 times the yield stress in compression. This is repeated for four stress cycles. The tensile load is then increased to give five times the yield strain, with unloading to 0.5 times the yield stress in compression. Again this is repeated for four stress cycles, followed by tensile loading to failure. The displacements across the joint during the different phases of the test are measured.

The two tests are described in ISO 15835-2.

R-Tech Materials has developed this test as part of an ongoing research programme. These tests are offered as UKAS accredited tests, although using an in-house test procedure, which accounts for errors identified in the ISO test method.