Standardised experimental earthquake models obtained by shock sequences in a cylinder

Scale models of Nuclear Power plants were constructed and soil structure interaction during Earthquakes studied using the CESTA centrifuge to simulate gravity at 100 g. The following compact paper presents results to show that good advance was made towards the development of a new tool for the evaluation of the behaviour and safety of structures on the basis of standardised experimental model Earthquakes. Small calibrated explosives were fixed at programmed intervals inside a cyclinder containing filters and ending by a rubber membrane impinging on the soil whereby creating a forward moving wave of a horizontally transform vertical profile. In addition to accelerometers and deflectometers stresses inside the soil and on the foundation and water pressure were measured, using a specially developed liquefaction indicator. Comparison by shock spectra and 3 degrees of rigid motion peatable with good precision and a graded scale of intensities up to 1.5 g in situ was obtained. Boundary value problems, i.e. echoes were extensively studied showing good approximation to semi-infinite conditions. (orig.)