Press Releases
Return to all Articles
Hydraform, innovator of the dry-stacked block-building system, recently donated a full-scale earthquake shake table to the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The 4mx4m earthquake test shake table is the first of its kind in Africa, developed by Hydraform’s then Technical Director, Quintin Booysen, in conjunction with a team of specialist consultants and engineers from Wits University.
The Witwatersrand University team was headed by Professor Herbert Uzoegbo, who approached Hydraform to begin earthquake resistance testing on its dry-stacked block building system. Subsequently, several of Professor Uzoegbo’s students also worked on the shaking table and peer review research papers were written on the work.
The Hydraform Building System proved itself as able to withstand major earthquake simulations, even after repeated tests were conducted on the same structure. This is a world first for dry-stacking block-building systems; a triumph that paves the way for cost-effective building solutions for earthquake-threatened regions around the world.
Final tests conducted by Hydraform and Professor Alex Elvin from Wits simulated the El Centro, Northridge and Llolleo earthquakes, with the same Hydraform structure performing extremely well. Video footage and Prof. Elvin’s report on these tests is available at http://www.hydraform.com/BuildingSystems/Earthquake.asp .
Hydraform believes that the earthquake shake table research will continue the great 15 year partnership between the company and the University, as well as the vanguard of some very important research for South Africa and other countries, moving forward.
Wiwatersrand School of Civil and Earthquake test shake table Final tests conducted by Hydraform & Prof.
Enviromental Engineering Alex Elvin
Published on 17 July 2009
