Center for Underground Infrastructure Research & Education (CUIRE) Equipment and Facilities

The Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE) promtes research, development, and training in underground infrastructure construction and renewal technologies. It is a part of the Civil Engineering Department and includes the equipment below:

Center Director: Mohammad Najafi, Ph.D., P.E.

Equipment

Charpy V-Notch (Model 1000 D6110, Nextgen Material Testing),

Suitable for measuring the impact energy absorbed by materials during fracture under high-velocity loading conditions. The system performs standardized Charpy impact tests on notched specimens to evaluate material toughness and impact resistance in compliance with ASTM D6110, ASTM E23, and ISO 1481 standards.

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) System (VIC-3D, Correlated Solutions),

Including a high-resolution ORX-10GS-51S5M-C camera capable of processing 400,000 data points per second, suitable for non-contact, full-field, three-dimensional measurements of surface shape, deformation, strain, and vibration. The system captures up to 31 million data points in real time, allowing precise displacement and strain measurements even for complex geometries and under variable loading conditions. This technology is highly effective for advanced material testing, failure analysis, and structural mechanics applications.

Environmental Growth Chambers (Model EPX-3H, ESPEC North America)

Consisting of two 408 L reach-in chambers capable of precise temperature control in the range of -70 °C to 180 °C, with optional humidity control between 10% and 98% RH (±2.5% stability). These chambers include forced-air circulation, viewing windows, water filtration, and programmable touch-screen control systems for automated thermal and humidity cycling. Designed for material conditioning, environmental testing, and small-scale biological research, the chambers provide stable and uniform conditions for long-duration experiments.

Gas Chromatograph–Mass Spectrometer (Torion T-9, PerkinElmer),

A portable GC/MS that quickly detects VOCs, SVOCs, and hazardous chemicals at trace levels. It’s lightweight, battery-operated, and provides results in minutes with an easy touchscreen interface and built-in chemical library, ideal for fast on-site analysis.

Hydrostatic Pressure Integrity Testing Machine (Model HPI-101-TC, Qualitest)

Suitable for generating controlled pressures up to 1,450 psi across a temperature range of 32 °F to 200 °F for testing thermoplastic pipes. This machine performs standardized pressure resistance and burst strength tests in accordance with ASTM D1598 and ASTM D1599, with time resolution down to one second.

Hydrostatic Pressure Pump (Model DPV-3B, Rice Hydro Inc.)

A diesel-powered hydrostatic test pump capable of generating pressures up to 550 psi. The system is powered by a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard 200 engine and is portable and durable, making it suitable for field and laboratory applications. The pump is used to generate high internal water pressures for leak detection, pipe and tank strength verification, and durability testing of pressurized systems under realistic service conditions.

Full-scale Soil Box and 330-kip MTS Actuator (MTS Systems)

A high-capacity servo-hydraulic actuator designed for static and cyclic testing of large-scale specimens. The actuator provides both compressive and tensile loading up to 330 kips with a stroke capacity of 20 inches, making it ideal for simulating vehicular, seismic, and structural loads in soil-box and infrastructure-scale experiments. Its robust control system enables accurate application of load histories for performance evaluation of structural and geotechnical components under controlled laboratory conditions.

Photoionization Detector (MiniRAE 3000+, Honeywell),

A portable instrument for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over a wide concentration range of 0 to 15,000 ppm with a rapid 3-second response time. The device employs a 10.6 eV ultraviolet lamp and features built-in humidity and temperature compensation to ensure reliable readings under variable environmental conditions. Intrinsically safe, with data logging and alarm functions, the MiniRAE 3000+ is suitable for industrial safety, environmental monitoring, and hazardous materials response operations.

Universal Testing Machine (Model AGX-50KNVD, Shimadzu)

An 11-kip capacity electromechanical testing system suitable for conducting tensile, compression, flexural, and shear tests on a wide variety of materials. The UTM enables accurate determination of mechanical properties, including strength, stiffness, and ductility, under controlled loading conditions. Its advanced digital control system provides high-precision force and displacement measurements.

UTM Chamber (Model TCE-N300A + 12.5, Shimadzu)

An environmental test enclosure for Autograph universal testing machines, capable of tensile, bending, and compression testing from –70 °C to +300 °C. It offers electric heating, cryogenic cooling, and interior clearance of 300×300 × (600–850) mm. It integrates via TRAPEZIUM X‑V software for automated temperature control and logging, and supports non-contact strain measurement with an optional video extensometer window.

Vacuum Pump (Model USV-9B, U.S. Vacuum Pumps LLC)

A rotary vane oil-lubricated vacuum pump with a 0.75 hp motor, 9 CFM capacity, and can achieve a maximum vacuum of 29.9 in Hg. It is compact, portable, and includes a vacuum pressure dial gauge. Ideal for vacuum chambers, degassing, composites, and lab applications.

Administration

Melanie Sattler, PhD, PE
Dr. Syed Qasim Endowed Professor and Chair
NH 406

Shih-Ho Chao, PhD, PE
ACPA Tom Wheelan Endowed Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies
NH 407

Arpita Bhatt, PhD
Associate Professor of Instruction, Associate Chair for Student Success
NH 336

Civil Engineering Staff