Overview
The EBRS group (pronounced "ee-burz") develops improved, hazard-resistant structural components and systems to protect the users of buildings and infrastructure. We employ a combination of shake table testing, advanced computer modeling, and field investigations. A special area of interest is development of green materials, components, and systems. In the past our focused has been on reinforced concrete, wood and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP). Our experimental methods include shake table and quasi-static testing; previous work made use of fast-acting hydraulic blast simulations. Our computational methods include structural finite elements (SAP 2000, OpenSees), high-fidelity physics finite elements (LS-DYNA, Abaqus), and structural reliability.
Current Projects
- Installation and characterization of shake table at Cal State LA. Once the shake table is installed we will conduct a series of bare- and loaded-table tests to characterize the performance of the table. The shake table will be available for use by Cal State LA and outside researchers.
- Fiber-reinforced self consolidating concrete for underground transportation applications. With Professor Mazari as the Principal Investigator, we are investigating the role of recycled steel and FRP fibers in the performance of self consolidating concrete. This is one of the projects funded by the University Transportation Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure (UTC-UTI).
- Analysis of unattached solar photovoltaic arrays. We are developing fast-running analysis tools based on closed form equations to predict the behavior of unattached solar panels on sloped roofs.
- Seismic mitigation of high voltage transformers. This is a senior design project with Southern California Edison as the client institution. Students are building and validating a structural model of the transformer and then exploring various mitigation alternatives.
Principal Publications
L.K. Stewart, A. Freidenberg, T. Rodriguez-Nikl, M. Oesterle, J. Wolfson, B. Durant, K. Arnett, R.J. Asaro, G.A. Hegemier (2014). "Methodology and validation for blast and shock testing of structures using high-speed hydraulic actuators", Engineering Structures, vol. 70. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2014.03.027.
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T. Rodriguez-Nikl, R. Gupta, A. Kramer, and A. Sinha (2013). "Seismic Laboratory Testing of Energy-Efficient, Staggered-Stud, Wood-Framed Shear Walls", J. Structural Engineering, Special Issue on Sustainable Building Structures. In print: 2015,141(3), B4014003. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000894.
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T. Rodriguez-Nikl, C.S. Lee, G. Hegemier, and F. Seible (2012), "Experimental Performance of Concrete Columns with Composite Jackets under Blast Loading", J. Structural Engineering 138(1), 81-89. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000444.
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T. Rodriguez-Nikl, G. Hegemier, and F. Seible (2011), "Blast Simulator Testing of Structures: Methodology and Validation", Shock and Vibration 18(4), 579-592. DOI: http://ddx.doi.org/10.3233/SAV-2010-0563x.doi.org/10.3233/SAV-2010-0563.
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T. Rodriguez-Nikl (2006), Experimental Simulations of Explosive Loading on Structural Components: Reinforced Concrete Columns with Advanced Composite Jackets, PhD dissertation, University of California, San Diego, web link.
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Classes
- I teach classes in engineering mechanics at all levels on an irregular rotation. These include statics (CE 2010), strength of materials (CE 2050), introductory structural mechanics (CE 3600), structural mechanics (CE 4600), and structural dynamics (CE 5650).
- I advise the EERI student chapter and their yearly seismic design competition. In the 2016-17 school year we held a formal lab course to assist the team.
- I have previously taught courses in use of FRP for retrofit of concrete structures, blast loading and progressive collapse of structures, and steel design.
Professional Activities
I am a regular reviewer for the Journal of Structural Engineering and Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems and regularly reviews papers across a variety of other journals. I am not a member of any professional committee related to EBRS. Most of my committee activities fall under the RSIC umbrella. These include the Sustainability Committee of the Structural Engineering Institute (2009-2015) within which I formed and chaired the Disaster Resilience Working Group (2011-2015). I was also a member of the American Concrete Institute Committee for Sustainability of Concrete (ACI 130) from 2009-2017.