Bowen Lab Projects

This project addresses a key cyberinfrastructure requirement for these communities -- robust and reliable streaming data middleware known as Open Source Data Turbine (OSDT). This collaborative project combines strategic software developments with deep engagement in three science communities: civil engineering, marine science, and ecology.

Experiments are quite effective for demonstrating basic concepts in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering to students. Shake tables are typically used for experimental research in earthquake engineering, but they are also very useful for instructional demonstrations.

Advanced structural damping systems such as magnetorheological dampers have great potential to play a large role in our ability to achieve performance-based structural design (PBD) directed towards seismic resilience. This research project focuses on the development of appropriate performance-based design procedures and model-based simulation techniques for advanced damping systems in civil engineering applications.

This project is part of a collaborative study of Soil-Foundation-Structure-Interaction (SFSI). To study the prototype structure, a series of four physical models were tested in the overall project. These models were tested using one of the following test types: centrifuge testing,field tests, shaking table tests, and laboratory tests. Large-scale individual columns and bridge bents have been built and tested at Purdue to evaluate strength degradation in flexure and shear under cyclic loads.

Although not often recognized for their significance by the motoring public, deck elements of highway bridges are important components for an efficient highway system. Robust performance of these components over the long-term is critical for smooth daily traffic operations as well as adequate bridge system performance during extreme events.

It is well recognized that the major impact on life-cycle costs is the additional mandate for hands-on in-service inspection of fracture-critical members. In fact for some owners, fracture-critical inspections consume a large fraction of the available inspection budget for a comparatively few structures. The cost of the fracture-critical inspection is typically 2 to 5 times greater than inspections for bridges without any FCMs.

Recent failures of high-mast lighting towers in several states have raised questions as to the robustness and safety of the existing inventory of similar structures. Failure of these structures is very critical as they are typically located adjacent to Interstates or other high-speed highways.

An experimental evaluation of post-tensioning in concrete bridge decks is being carried out to verify design recommendations derived from analytical models for slab-on-girder bridges.

This project focuses on the development of an instrument to integrate physical and simulated components of an RTHS. The goal is to integrate these under a common reusable middleware architecture for flexible and reconfigurable use.

Primarily in response to failures during the late 1960's and 1970's, the material, design, fabrication, shop inspection, and in-service inspection requirements were improved for steel bridges in general. Special provisions for fracture critical members (FCM) were later implemented in 1978 mainly in reaction to bridge collapses.