Establishment of Shock Table Testing Facility at IOE Pulchowk for Earthquake-Resilient Building Research in Nepal

1. Project Overview

In the wake of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in April 2015, the urgent need to develop earthquake-resilient infrastructure became abundantly clear. Recognizing the country’s vulnerability due to its tectonic location, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Mahavir Shree International Pvt. Ltd. (MSIPL), initiated a project to install a Shock Table Testing Facility at the Institute of Engineering (IOE), Pulchowk, Kathmandu.

This facility marks Nepal’s first national-level seismic testing installation, intended to foster research into the seismic performance of buildings and materials. The shock table allows for the controlled simulation of earthquake forces and measurement of building responses—critical data that supports the design of safer structures.

The project supplied and integrated a set of precision instruments, including KS48C Accelerometers, Multisense Linear Potentiometers, ASM Linear Displacement Transducers, Dewetron Trionet Module with Oxygen Software, and a Hioki Memory Hilogger. These components were specifically chosen for their ability to capture fine-grained data on acceleration, displacement, and pulse time—key parameters for earthquake simulations.

The installation was not without challenges. Accurately replicating real-time earthquake dynamics, especially those with acceleration levels up to 1.6g, required exact calibration of sensors and test rigs. Maintaining high sensitivity and alignment between theoretical design values and empirical data was crucial to ensuring reliability.

Through rigorous calibration and careful experimental design, the team achieved results that closely matched real-world seismic data. A heavy mass was released at varying angles onto a loaded movable plank (Shock Table), mimicking the impact forces during a quake. The sensors captured critical metrics, which researchers can now use to model and evaluate structural resilience under seismic conditions.

Ultimately, this project establishes a strong foundation for advancing earthquake-resilient construction in Nepal. It supports safer building practices, empowers local engineers and researchers, and contributes to national disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience.

2. Project Details

Client:

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Location:

Institute of Engineering (IOE), Pulchowk, Kathmandu

Completion Date:

Not Specified

Project Duration:

Not Specified

Industry:

Engineering Research / Disaster Resilience

3. Technical Implementation – System Components Setup

The shock table testing facility includes the following technical components:

KS48C Accelerometers: ±6g range with 1000g overrange protection, designed for low-frequency structural movement measurement.

Multisense Linear Potentiometers (MS-19): Conductive plastic sensors, operational up to +150°C, stroke lengths up to 450mm, IP67 sealing.

ASM Linear Displacement Transducers: High-quality position sensors used for displacement and angle measurement.

Dewetron Trionet Module with Oxygen Software: Modular data acquisition system with reliable high-speed data logging capabilities.

Hioki Memory Hilogger: Electrical measuring instruments for recording data from sensor inputs.

A heavy mass is released at angles between 5–45° to strike a movable plank (shock table), simulating seismic forces. Sensors are precisely positioned to measure acceleration, displacement, and pulse time. These measurements provide input for structural performance evaluations.

4. Performance and Capabilities

Acceleration Range: Real earthquake-level acceleration measured up to ~1.6g

Displacement Measurement: Achieved using ASM linear transducers

Pulse Time Accuracy: Synchronized with impact forces and motion

Sensor Sensitivity: High precision for capturing minor variations in physical response

System Accuracy: Results closely matched design values

5. Impacts and Benefits

Enabled simulation of earthquake impacts for structural analysis

Supported design of earthquake-resilient buildings and retrofitting strategies

Facilitated academic and institutional research at a national level

Promoted data-driven disaster preparedness in Nepal

Provided a scalable testing model for future infrastructure development

6. Conclusion

The installation of the shock table at IOE Pulchowk by Mahavir Shree International, with support from UNDP, represents a major milestone in Nepal's journey toward earthquake-resilient infrastructure. The accurate replication of seismic conditions and data acquisition empowers engineers and researchers to design safer buildings. This facility not only addresses current disaster risks but also lays the groundwork for a scientifically informed and structurally sound future for Nepal.