Center for Structural Engineering Research

The UT Arlington College of Engineering is working with some of the nation's leading corporations to construct a Center for Structural Engineering Research (CSER), one of the largest of its kind in the U.S., allowing full-scale testing of large structural components.

Center for Structural Engineering Research The Dallas/Fort Worth area will see an economic benefit with additional jobs created by the center and an increased opportunity for UT Arlington to compete for state and federal research funding. And, as one of the largest structural testing facilities in the U.S., the CSER will bring world-wide recognition to the university's engineering programs while also supporting local concrete industry research needs. The $34 million facility, operated by Civil & Environmental Engineering faculty, will also benefit the concrete products industry by helping to grow the concrete products market and provide facilities to test the effects of nature, earthquakes, fire and other destructive factors.

The 80,000 square-foot center, which will be located at the northeast corner of 1-30 and MacArthur, about eleven miles from the UT Arlington campus, will boast 40,000 square feet of conference, classroom office and shop space and 40,000 square feet of research space. The research area will contain the largest reaction floor in the nation and feature state-of-the art equipment and instrumentation, such as several 200-ton dynamic actuators, nano and laser sensors and image processing devices. The reaction floor will be capable of testing several full-size building and bridge components simultaneously with monotonic, cyclic, dynamic, fire and blast loads. Two 53-feet tall, 50-ton cranes will move test specimens and materials to specialized equipment in the research area.

Contributions of construction materials, specialized lab equipment, office furnishings and designated funds are encouraged and appreciated.

for Realplayer

for Windows Media Player