Faculty-in-Charge: Shih-Ho Chao, Ph.D., P.E.
Situated on the west side of the UT Arlington campus, the Civil Engineering Lab Building provides enhanced teaching and research facilities for civil engineering faculty members, students, and staff. Completed in 2008, the 26,000-square-foot facility houses areas for the study of asphalt/pavement, construction engineering, materials/structures, and geoenvironmental and geotechnical systems. The facility includes state-of-the-art laboratories that enhance students' learning experience in the rapidly growing department, as well as space for high-demand research.
The Civil Engineering Laboratory Building (CELB) of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington is the largest civil engineering research facility in North Texas. It encompasses advanced laboratories for structural, geotechnical, and construction engineering, as well as specialized facilities for underground materials testing, nondestructive evaluation, landfill and waste management, and pavement materials research.
The Structural Research Laboratory (SRL) is a research facility located in the Civil Engineering Laboratory Building (CELB). SRL has the capability to test full-scale structural components and systems, and it occupies 12,000 square feet of space. The laboratory space includes 50 ft x 24 ft reaction floor (36-in. thick heavily reinforced concrete slab), enabling the testing of full-size structures and components.
SRL is equipped with two 850-kip (425-ton) reaction frames. Their positions in the lab can be adjusted using super nuts or post-tensioned rods anchored to the reaction floor, and the beam locations can be adjusted using high-strength bolts.
MTS Series 201.80 hydraulic actuators are single-ended, heavy-duty, fatigue-rated force generators targeted at long-stroke and mid-level performance dynamic structural applications. Compatible with MTS feedback and control components, this actuator’s performance is ideal for low-frequency testing and simulation applications.
MTS Series 201.45 hydraulic actuators are single-ended, heavy-duty, fatigue-rated force generators targeted at long-stroke and mid-level performance dynamic structural applications. Compatible with MTS feedback and control components, this actuator’s performance is ideal for low-frequency testing and simulation applications.
Enerpac Double-Acting Hydraulic Cylinder
15-ton overhead crane
The Tinius Olsen Super L 602 has high-speed data transmission via a serial port, a variable sample break function to automatically display peak values and return the crosshead, and a modular design that supports additional load cells and transducers with automatic identification. It also has the Model 602 Control System, which provides closed-loop servo control for precise regulation of load, strain, and position rates, and enables computer-based control of hydraulic machines.
The 810 Material Testing System delivers a comprehensive range of capabilities for both low- and high-force static and dynamic testing. It can be configured with a variety of force capacities, servovalve flow ratings, pump capacities, software, and accessories to meet specific material or component testing needs. The system has force ranges from 25 kN (5.5 kip) to 500 kN (110 kip), a wide performance range, and can test materials from plastics to aluminum, composites, and steel. It provides a large test space to accommodate standard, medium, and large specimens, grips, fixtures, and environmental subsystems. The 810 system can perform a wide variety of tests, including tensile, high-cycle fatigue, fracture mechanics, and component durability.
Capacity: 12 cu ft (Batch Output: 9 cu ft)
Power: 5.5 HP Electric / 13 HP Honda Gas
Type: Vertical Shaft Paddle Mixer
Max Aggregate Size: 3/8 in
Capacity: 12 cu ft (Batch Output: 9.5 cu ft)
Power: 1.9 HP, 110 V Electric Motor
Compact, efficient design for small to medium concrete batches
Capacity: 27.7 cu ft
Max Temperature: 400 °F (204 °C)
Chamber Size: 37" W × 37" D × 35" H
Features: Stainless steel interior, forced-air convection for uniform temperature
Capacity: 500,000 lbf (≈ 2,224 kN)
Specimen Opening: 14 in × 14.3 in
Standards: Meets ASTM C39 for concrete compressive strength
Applications: Testing concrete cylinders, cubes, and cores with high precision
Capacity: 250 × 250 mm platform
Power: Servo motor with closed-loop PID control
Type: Single-axis portable shake table
Features: High-precision motion control, supports sine/triangle/user-defined waveforms, user-friendly interface, rugged construction, ideal for instrument calibration
Blade Size: 16 in (400 mm)
Power: 8,980 W Toroidal Motor
Cutting Depth: Up to 11.8 in (300 mm)
Speed: 3,000 RPM
Features: Integrated water-fed dust suppression, ergonomic design, suitable for granite, porcelain, concrete, and stone
ARAMIS digital image correlation-based non-contact measurement system can monitor progressive damage and visualize failure mechanisms in 3D. The system consists of four pairs of 12 megapixel digital cameras connected to a high performance control computer, whereby the underlying software of the vendor processes the pixel motion into surface displacements and concomitant deformation (strain) measurements in real-time. A pair of cameras and the data processing unit is shown in the figure below. Cameras can accommodate a frame rate of up to 24 Hz at the full resolution of 4096 × 3072 pixels. The strain measuring range is from 0.01% up to more than 100% with an accuracy of up to 0.01%.
The Genie® GS™-2646 E-Drive slab scissor lift is suitable for work indoors and outdoors on firm, level surfaces where space is limited. Its state-of-the-art Genie AC electric E-Drive system offers unmatched efficiency and runtime on installation, maintenance and construction jobs where a significant amount of driving is required.
This welding system delivers the highest output in its class, providing 250 A at 26.5 VDC for extended welding on high-end applications. It offers infinite voltage control with self-calibrating digital meters, allowing precise presetting of voltage and wire feed speed. Integrated digital timers include presettable preflow/postflow, burnback, spot, and delay (stitch) functions, with independent timers for MIG and spool gun operation. Line voltage compensation maintains constant power output despite input variations of ±10 percent. The Active Arc Stabilizer™ ensures excellent arc starts and minimizes weld cleanup. Auto-Gun Detect™ automatically recognizes MIG, spool, or push/pull guns and recalls the corresponding voltage, wire feed speed, and timer settings. The system incorporates a heavy-duty aluminum two-drive-roll mechanism and a Fan-On-Demand™ cooling system that operates only when needed, reducing noise, energy consumption, and internal contamination.
Environmental Conditioning Room
Steel Saw
Concrete Saw
Timber Saw
Panel Saw
Forklift
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
