A new large scale laboratory: The LEDA research centre (Laboratory of Earthquake engineering and Dynamic Analysis)

Recently, the field of earthquake engineering experienced substantial enhancements due to numerous results of experimental and theoretical researches. Modern technical codes recognized the last advances in this field and provided new solutions for the structural assessment and design of buildings. However, the need for large scale testing is still taking several open questions, especially for the design of civil infrastructures, and experimental activity on full scale specimens has become necessary. This paper presents the main testing facilities of a new research centre, namely the Laboratory of Earthquake engineering and Dynamic Analysis (LEDA) of the University of Enna “Kore”. In particular, the design procedures of facilities for dynamic and pseudo-dynamic testing, built in order to perform tests on specimens of large dimensions, are described and discussed. The LEDA centre, includes several laboratories operating in the fields of structural engineering and dynamics. The most important features of LEDA are the broad band of tests that can be performed and the presence of a high capacity strong floor - reaction wall system and of two six-degrees-of-freedom shaking tables. The capabilities of the laboratory are highlighted, stressing as the complementarity of both traditional techniques (pseudo-dynamic and dynamic tests) can be fully studied and advanced hybrid testing method can be investigated.