The laboratories used by faculty, students and staff in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have been designed to enhance the learning objectives for undergraduate and graduate students while also providing critical resources for performing state-of-the-art research.
Structural and Mechanical Laboratories
Concepts in Surveying Laboratory
The Concepts in Surveying Laboratory was established to put surveying equipment into the hands of students. Civil Engineering infrastructure work begins with high-quality, accurate survey data. The experience of surveying in the field using advanced equipment, such as levels and total stations, supports a student's use of teamwork and creative problem-solving. From outdoor data collection to computer modeling, students then post-process data using CAD software. The dynamic and exciting science of Geomatics and modern map-making is then introduced with software-based lab work that explores LiDAR, Photogrammetry, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Neff Civil Engineering Undergraduate Computer Laboratory
This laboratory provides Civil Engineering students with access to all the computer resources needed for both course work and research. All of the computers in the Neff lab can act as independent workstations or provide access via a fiber optic link to other campus computers.
Vanderhoof-Schuette Structural Laboratory
The laboratory is a premiere facility for large-scale structural testing used for both education and research on the performance of large-scale infrastructure components.
The facility is designed for both static and dynamic testing. Controlled force, displacement, or strain may be applied at frequencies up to 20Hz. The performance of innovative structural components, new structural connections, sign supports, pipelines, and systems for new energy facilities can be evaluated. More specifically, studies to determine stiffness, static strength, fatigue strength, fracture toughness, cyclic behavior, and effective damping can be performed. Wind excitation, earthquake excitation, and vehicle-induced vibration can be simulated.
The facility supports one of the principal objectives of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Case Western Reserve University: to provide advanced education and perform advanced research focused on our built infrastructure.
The facility features a 1,500 square foot strong floor and L-shaped 28-foot-high strong wall with tie-down points on a 2-foot grid with a capacity of 60,000 pounds each. The wall also provides a 500-ton reaction test cell. Four 6 foot by 6 foot uni-directional shaking tables provide capabilities for application of dynamic horizontal support motions. Laboratory hydraulic fluid is supplied at 3000 psi to actuators through a stainless steel pipe network to five power stations. A 95 gallon per minute hydraulic power supply is situated in a separate, sound-containing room. The pump and oil temperature are controlled by a separate water cooling loop and rooftop heat exchanger. The hydraulic system is controlled by a four-channel MTS FlexTest 60 digital controller. Laboratory activities are supported by a 15-ton crane, 32-foot scissor lift and 2-ton forklift. One 110-kip, two 55-kip, and four 22-kip hydraulic actuators are available for structural testing. A broad selection of sensors is available and includes LVDTs, clip-on gauges, and extensometers. Contact Dr. Christian Carloni for more information.
Environmental Laboratories
Environmental Engineering Laboratory
This laboratory is one in a suite of laboratories that support Environmental Engineering teaching and research. The facilities include a teaching laboratory, an advanced instrumentation laboratory, a remediation research laboratory and an electronic classroom/software laboratory. The Environmental Engineering Laboratory is equipped for conventional Standard Methods analysis of water, wastewater, soil, solid waste, and air samples (pH meters, furnaces, glove box, ovens, incubators, hoods, etc.), advanced analytical instruments including high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Ion chromatography (IC), UV-visible spectrometer, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and for aerobic and anaerobic microbiology work. The lab also offers generous bench top space for student teams to explore laboratory procedures and provides direct access to research, instrumentation, and computational facilities. Contact Dr.Huichun (Judy) Zhang for more information.
Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory
This laboratory has a suite of cutting-edge molecular biology instruments. It is equipped with a QX600 droplet digital PCR machine, Duet quantitative PCR instrument, spectrophotometer (fluorescence and UV-Vis with shaking and temperature control), centrifuges, incubators, fridges, freezers, analytical balances, and more. Contact Dr. Bridget Hegarty for more information.
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratories
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratories
The new state of the art Geotechnical Engineering Laboratories and Educational Facilities offer an ideal environment for teaching and research:
The Frank Gerace Undergraduate Laboratory operates an undergraduate geotechnical testing laboratory to conduct most routine ASTM and AASHTO tests, following their standardized procedures.
The Richard A. Saada Intelligent Geosystems Laboratory houses innovative interdisciplinary research including sensor and non-destructive technologies such as Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR), ultrasonics, fiber optic sensors, smart and functional materials, multiphysics processes in porous materials, etc.
The Saada Family Geotechnical Laboratory has a full array of strength and deformation testing units; notable are automated triaxial units for generalized extension and compression tests, units permitting simultaneous application of hydrostatic, axial and torsional static and dynamic loads, units by means of which one dimensional consolidation in the triaxial cell can be achieved, and various pore pressure, force and deformation measuring devices. Also available is a longitudinal and torsional resonant column device and a large size oedometer equipped with bender elements.
A 20g-tons fully automated centrifuge with a servo-hydraulic earthquake shaker is in operation.
The Warren C. Gibson library has a large array of reference materials, conference proceedings and internet connection to the University library and other sources of technical information. Contact Dr. Bill Yu for more information.
Haptic Research Laboratory
The haptic interface laboratory hosts two state-of-the-art driving simulators. It provides holistic driving simulations for advanced research, education and training in the area of transportation safety, human perception and human-machine interface. Contact Dr. Bill Yu for more information.
Engineering Mechanics Laboratories
Strength of Materials and Concrete Laboratory
The laboratory space is adjacent to the Structural Engineering Laboratory. It includes a room for concrete batching (Bingham G74), a humidity and temperature-controlled room (Bingham G70) to support small-scale specimen preparation and storage, and newly-renovated curing room. The laboratory houses metal and wood fabrication equipment that includes MIG, TIG, Stick and Oxyacetylene welders, plasma cutter, drill press, mag drill, bench grinders, mitter and vertical saws. A 55-kip MTS Landmark Series, 110-kip MTS 880 Series, 220-kip MTS 244 Series servo-hydraulic universal testing machines together with an axial (55 kip)-torsional (20,000 in-lb) MTS 312 Series servo-hydraulic machine are part of the laboratory. In addition, a 600-kip compression machine (ControlsGroup USA) is available. Fixtures for fracture mechanics setups (one for spans up to 20 in and the other for spans up to 48 in.) are available. Clevis-type grips are available for tensile tests on composite coupons and fracture mechanics compact tests. Contact Dr. Christian Carloni for more information.