Shock Table Rocks with Bearings
by Laura Carrabine, Senior Editor
Friday, October 09, 2009
When the Washington University Structural Control and Earthquake Engineering Lab (WUSCEEL) in St. Louis, Missouri needed an earthquake simulation machine, it turned to PBC Linear for its Simplicity linear bearings. The products tolerate intense shock and vibration with fretting and require no added grease or oil.
Intense shock vibration is required to study the impact of earthquakes and structure analysis. To recapture the conditions of an earthquake, WUSCEEL researchers constructed a shock table that simulates earthquake conditions. The structure can weigh up to 850-lbs and when vibrating, can exert 3-4 gs of force on the bearings and shafting.
Linear plane bearings are designed to last in the harshest environments including heavy loads and short strokes. These bearings contain no moving parts and the proprietary FrelonGold liner is said to enhance load capacities and dampen shock vibration. Combined with PBC Linear ceramic coated shafting, the Simplicity plane bearings provided smooth, quiet, and long lasting linear motion in the environment created by the shock table. It is used to test for a range of structural analysis including bridge and building stability research, fragility curves, and aero vibration systems.
PBC Linear
www.pbclinear.com
::Design World::