This laboratory is equipped to carry out material testings, static and pseudo dynamic test on elements, components, models and full-scale structures. The Laboratory of Structures and the Earthquake Engineering Division offer the following services:

• Study of physical and mechanical properties of construction materials.
• Study of special materials (plastics, glass, etc.).
• Dosification of different types of concretes (regular, high-resistance, hydraulic, etc.)
• Study and testing of structural elements made of steel, wood, masonry, concrete, etc. such as beams, columnas, walls, truss, etc.
• Inspection and evaluation of construction sites, consultancy of structural projects, analysis and structural design of civil engineering infrastructures.
• Evaluation of seismic security of civil engineering infrastructures.
• Dynamic tests of scale models using the shaking table.
• Dynamic tests of existing structures using a generator of vibrations.
• Strengthening and reparation of existing structures.

The main facility of this laboratory is the reaction wall and testing floor made of prestressed concrete. The reaction wall has 9m high, 10.8m wide and 4.5 m thick, and its moment capacity is 3,300 ton-m and base shear is about 540ton . Over the wall, four actuators are set to apply the loads for the pseudo-dynamic test. The testing floor has 22.5m long and 10.8m wide. This wall and slab are unique in southamerica. The loading system use actuators for the dynamic tests and hydraylic jacks for the static tests. The load capacity of this actuators and jacks are 100, 50 and 20 ton. The acquisition data is carry out through a digital system in which each actuator has its automatic control.

Other important system is the shaking table of 1.2x1.2m which allow us to conduct dynamic tests on scale models. Also the laboratory has a 300ton compression testing machine and a 50ton universal testing machine which is used for traction, compression, shear and flexion tests of materials such as steel, wood, concrete, plastic, rubber, ceramics, etc.

Three research threads have been stablished:

• Development of energy disipators and base aisolation
• Improvement and development of construction housing system
• Research on strengthening and reinforcing of existing structures

• Seismic behavior of joing in Racks Dexion. Perfiles Unión S.A.
• Seismic behavior of Intervida - Arequipa por encargo de Intervida.
• Identification of new housing construction systems. SENCICO.
• Vibrations of Banco Santander Building. Banco Santander.
• Vibrations of Transportation Belt and Silos. Cementos Lima S.A.
• Seismic Vulnerability of Peruvian Hospitals. Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO) and Ministry of Health.
• Behavior of steel member after been exposed to high temperatures. Aladino SCRL

OTHER STUDIES :

• Sutdy of the Seismic Vulnerability of 16 Peruvian Hospitals. MINSA y OPS/OMS (1996-1998)
• Damage reports caused by Loma Prieta (EE.UU., 1989), Rioja (1990), Moyobamba (1991), and Nazca (1996) Earthquakes
• Seismic vulnerability evaluation and Reinforcement of Educational Centers damaged by the Nazca Earthquake (1996).
• Evaluation of tubes for Lima's Water System Network (Sedapal, 1997)
• Vulnerability report of Lima city due to El Niño Phenomenon (1997-1998)