OTHER INITIATIVES > Blind Test Challenge

15WCEE Blind Test Challenge

The Organizing Committee of the 15WCEE invites all the technical and scientific community attending the 15WCEE to participate in the 15WCEE Blind Test Challenge.

The 15WCEE Blind Test Challenge is a blind prediction competition in which competing teams are invited to predict the nonlinear seismic behavior of two reinforced concrete structures, geometrically identical, designed for low and high ductility levels according to the EC8 provisions.

The blind predictions provided by each team will be assessed based on the results obtained with actual full-scale structures that will be tested during the 15WCEE on the LNEC shaking table. Extensive information regarding the two test specimens will be provided by the 15WCEE Blind Test Challenge organizing committee. RMS error values between the experimentally achieved on the physical model and the numerically predicted absolute displacements, for selected control points, will be used for classification purposes.

The winners will be honored during the gala dinner of the conference by the President of an independent international jury commission specially appointed by the Organizing Committee for the Blind Test Challenge competition.

The deadline for registration in the 15WCEE Blind Test Challenge will be December 16, 2011. All the information necessary for the participation will be provided for the registered teams, as follows:

• Design Report (January 2012) - Geometrical and mechanical properties of materials to be used in the construction of models and reinforcement detailing of the tests specimens. Response spectra and reference target input ground motions (low intensity and high intensity) to be used during the seismic tests. Preliminary shake-table input ground motions deemed to be used during the seismic tests.

• Assessment Report (March 2012) – Test results for the mechanical properties of materials used during the construction of models (compressive, flexural strength and rebound tests for concrete, tension tests for longitudinal steel reinforcement bars). Results for in-situ ambient dynamic characterization tests, detailed photographic report. Updated seismic table input ground motions to be used during the seismic tests.

• Pre-test Linear response Phase (June 2012) – Shaking table input time histories for low amplitude seismic motions (0.1g PGA) and control points displacement responses for the two models.

For further information please send an email to the Challenge coordinator: challenge@15wcee.org.