Using Centrifugal Force to Study Natural Hazards

On this episode, natural hazards Jason DeJong discusses the experimental centrifuges, including the giant nine-meter centrifuge, at the UC Davis Center for Geotechnical Modeling, a NHERI facility. DeJong explains how rapidly spinning centrifuges create “hypergravity” — a force up to 200 Gs — to study how structures and soil withstand natural hazards. Here’s how it works: researchers place a physical model in the centrifuge bucket and subject it to a high-speed, hypergravity field. Then, using equations, they scale the loading forces proportionate to the model. This crazy, high-speed environment, enables scientists to see and measure the stresses of earthquakes, waves and wind on natural and built environments.“That proportional scale is amazing. We can simulate real-world systems that we can’t really do any other way.” - Jason DeJongJason DeJong  NHERI UC Davis Centrifuge