Application Centre for Concrete and Construction

The Application Centre for Concrete and Construction (AC³) is the structural lab for CERG. The unique infrastructure is highlighted by two 7 meters high reaction walls and a strong floor allowing for the full-scale testing of structures and structural components up to 36 meters long and 8 meters high. The reaction walls have a shear load capacity of 1000 kN/m and a bending strength of 5000 kNm/m while the strong floor has a punching resistance of 6000 kN/m² and a bending strength of 1000 kNm/m.

Running along the reaction walls and the strong floor, there is an anchoring grid for securing specimens and installing experimental set-ups. Each anchor point is spaced 0.5 by 0.5 meters apart and has a pull out capacity of 500 kN. 2 sets of steel profiles (HEB300 and HEB500) are available for the assembly of testing frames.

Hydraulic jacks with compressive ranges from 100 to 5000 kN and tensile ranges from 50 to 2500 kN are available. Multiple loading cells (uni- and bilateral) ranging from 125 to 5000 kN are also at hand. Different types of analogue sensors measuring displacement (LVDT's, strain gauges,...) and inclinations (inclinometers) are available. Data from to 20 sensors and 32 strain gauges can be captured from the data acquisition system. Furthermore, a system based on digital image correlation is also available at the facility to capture the displacement, strain and stress field induced during loading.