Gonnector Manufacturer Opens Research Lab

Simpson Strong-Tie Co. recently unveiled a $10 million, state-of-the-art structural engineering and research laboratory in Stockton, Ca. The facility will help Simpson better understand the effects of earthquakes and high wind on structural systems, as well as design and test innovative, structurally-sound and cost-effective building solutions.

The Tyrell Gilb Research Laboratory opened in mid-July adjacent to its eight-month-old distribution and manufacturing operation. The lab's highly specialized equipment tests a structure's resistance to extreme conditions, including high wind and strong earthquake forces similar in magnitude to those of Northridge, Ca., and Kobe, Japan.

"We are a safety company," said Barclay Simpson, chairman of Simpson Strong-Tie. "With this advanced technology and research, Simpson will continue providing customers with innovative and proven structural building products that not only help to minimize loss of life and property damage during catastrophic events, but also enable the industry to improve building practices cost-effectively."

The 25,000-sq. ft. lab cunently features two types of equipment: a seismic shake table and two cyclic/static test frames. The shake table tests portions of structures up to 25 ft. long and three stories high. The test involves mounting a wall specimen on top of the shake table, which then moves back and forth to simulate earthquake ground motions.

The cyclic/static frames can test walls up to five stories tall and 50 ft. in length. While shake table testing forces the ground beneath the specimen to move back and forth, cyclic/static testing fixes ground movement, and instead applies force

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