With the test halls of the institutes of steel construction (including ZMB) and solid construction, the center already has comprehensive and efficient test facilities. The test facilities will be completed by the joint hall extension of the Institute of Solid Construction and the Chair of Structural Analysis and Dynamics. Within the scope of this hall extension, the installation of a vibration table as well as a reaction wall is also planned, which represent a unique selling point in Germany and support the planned research activities in earthquake engineering.
The facilities of the ZMB have been used several times in the past to conduct experimental investigations of structures and structural components under earthquake loads. The focus here is on the identification and formulation of dissipation behavior and damage mechanisms due to low cycle fatigue.
Another unique feature is the boundary layer wind tunnel at the Institute of Steel Construction, which has been successfully operated for more than twenty years. In addition to fully automatic control of the inflow and the turntable, this is currently being supplemented by a computer-controlled traversing system, which allows independent three-dimensional measurement of the flow with two high-resolution multi-hole probes. Such a possibility for flow measurement and thus for the detailed measurement of the complex correlation properties of the generated stochastic wind field is unique in Germany. The existing pressure measurement system allows the fully synchronous acquisition of currently 192 channels at a high sampling rate.
The system is also currently being further expanded. In addition, several multi-axial force balances are available, which can also be used for HFFB (High frequency force balance) measurements, as well as a test rig for the aeroelastic investigation of bridge cross sections. A test rig for the aeroelastic measurement of tower structures, in particular wind turbines, is currently being planned.