UC San Diego engineers are expected to test a wind turbine under simulated earthquakes 7.0 magnitude and greater at 2 p.m. today, Feb 22. [
web cam] [
screen shot]
The 80-foot , 65-kilowatt turbine, donated by Oak Creek Energy Systems, was built in the 1980s and operated in Tehachapi, Calif.
Check out the live web cam:
http://nees.ucsd.edu/resources/video-sw.shtmlmedia advisory below:
MEDIA ADVISORY:
Press Briefing and Dramatic Photo Opportunity Engineers to Shake Wind Turbine During Strong Simulated Jolts
WHEN: 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 (test subject to weather conditions)
WHERE: UC San Diego Englekirk Structural Engineering Center, Camp Elliott (Scripps Ranch)10205 Pomerado Rd., San Diego, 92128 map
WHO: Ahmed Elgamal, Structural Engineering Professor, UC San Diego, Enrique Luco, Structural Engineering Professor, UC San Diego, Chia-Ming Uang, Structural Engineering Professor, UC San Diego, Reps from Oak Creek Energy Systems, an Escondido, Calif,.-based wind energy company
WHAT: Witness the dramatic shaking of a wind turbine during a series of simulated earthquakes at the UC San Diego Englekirk Structural Engineering Center. UC San Diego engineers are expected to test the turbine under simulated earthquakes 7.0 magnitude and greater. This is the second in a series of shake tests. The first set of tests earlier this month was the first time a wind turbine was tested on a shake table with the blades in operation. The 80-foot , 65-kilowatt turbine, donated by Oak Creek Energy Systems, was built in the 1980s and operated in Tehachapi, Calif. The same materials are used to build modern-day wind turbines, which stand 150 feet tall and higher. Little seismic research has been conducted on wind turbines until now. As wind farms become a growing critical component of the world’s “green” power generation, industry leaders and researchers are studying their performance and looking for ways to further enhance their seismic design. Under this $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, UCSD engineers will be able to do just that. The Englekirk Structural Engineering Center, which has the largest outdoor shake table in the world, is the only facility capable of testing a full scale wind turbine.
CONTACT: Andrea Siedsma, (760) 840-0494(cell);
asiedsma@soe.ucsd.edu
