The Empa testing hall with its multiple functionality is an important corner stone of our testing and research activities. A wide range of test machines are installed in our testing hall.

Features of the testing hall and the strong floor:

• Dimension: 12 x 40.8 m, the highest level to be passed by crane is 13.5 m
• Several crane ways are available with loading capacities up to 100 kN.

• 385 anchorages positions
• Loading capacity per anchorage point: 2000 kN tension or compression as well as 2000 kN shear.

• Standardized steel supports or beams (Mecano like) can be arranged for various test geometries.
• A wide range of testing machines for applying forces of up to 20 MN as well as a servo hydraulic with up to 1000 kN tension / compression cylinder.

New

Intelligent cable-stayed bridge - a research laboratory

This bridge is creating a link between the often highly simplified laboratory experiments and the more complex, real world structures.

Topics:

• Structural dynamics: passive, semi-active and active vibration mitigation, health-monitoring, self diagnostics
• Integrated sensing: fiber optic sensors, piezoelectric fiber sensors
• Advanced materials as structural elements (glass- and carbon-fiber reinforced polymers)

EMPA  is well equiped for future challenges targets.

We carry out tests and research orders for civil engineering applications, car and machine as well as air- and space technology manufacturers.

Responsible are:

Heinrich Lippuner          Head of Testing Hall

Bruno Maag                  Techn. Assistant

Bruno Dürst                   Techn. Assistant

Guiseppe Cuccuru          Techn. Assistant

Our automatic concrete mixing plant takes charges up to 0.75m3

Responsible is:

Werner Studer      Techn. Assistant