MECHANIC AND STRUCTURAL LABORATORY
The Mechanic and Structural Laboratory provides comprehensive modern facilities for research and teaching in structural engineering, solid mechanics and construction materials. A comprehensive range of modern testing machines is provided for static and dynamic testing of structures and construction materials. These include a tension/compression machine of generous light-clearance, MTS machines and hydraulic testing systems, with various modern data acquisition systems. Laboratory experiments are conducted at civil engineeing workshop for large equipments/testing machines and at new department laboratories building for small-scale testing, all facilities are also provided and supported by the department technical staff.
The Wind Tunnel is a new laboratory under development. This laboratory is divided in one rooms which need wide space area for equipment, another room is prepared for researcher and technical staff. This area is consist of an enclosed room with wind tunnel, computers, and data acquisition system with its software and pressure measurement system. This equipment was purchased within the budget of “World Bank Loan Project” during year 2000. The overall condition of the equipment is very good for initial research and instruction efforts. Current use of the laboratory has been on research as well as demonstrations and experimental work on a limited basis. So, the overall condition of the wind tunnel to meet instructional requirements at the undergraduate level is fair.
The Mechanic and Structural Laboratory provides modern facilities for research and teaching in structural engineering, solid mechanics and construction materials.
The another subdivided laboratory is mechanic and strength of materials laboratory. The objective of this lab is to demonstrate the basic principles in the area of strength and mechanics of materials and structural analysis to the undergraduate students through a series of experiments. Tests such as the tension tests of a steel coupon, torsion of model circular sections and bending of a steel bar are conducted in the lab. Model truss and frames are also employed to illustrate the theory in structural analysis and the basic plastic theory of bending. With different arrangements of the model set, the load-displacement relationship of beams, frames and trusses can be illustrated. Through demonstration, students can verify the elastic and plastic behaviour of these basic structural forms and so acquire sound understanding of the basic theories of structural analysis. The students are also introduced to the data acquisition system (Strain gauges and dial gauges etc) used in experimental study.
Necessary Facilities and Equipments available in the Mechanic and Structural Laboratory include portable digital strain indicators, switching and balancing units, dial gages, linear variable differential transducers, strain gages, and calibration apparatus. A versatile structural model kit and a polygon of forces apparatus are specially suited for demonstration. The overall condition of the equipment to meet instructional requirements at the undergraduate and graduate level is very good.