The Structures and Materials Research Laboratory (SMRL) at the University of Southern California (USC) is located in the basement of Kaprielian Hall (KAP). SMRL is specially designed to conduct material, and reduced-, large- and full-scale structural testing. The laboratory is equipped to conduct research to improve the safety, sustainability and serviceability of built infrastructures. The Laboratory consists of over 4,000 ft2 of test space and associated fabrication facilities. A series of servo-hydraulic actuators with capacities ranging from 11 kips to 340 kips are available for structural testing on a large-scale reaction frame with a 30 ft. by 18 ft. footprint and a 14 ft. high L-shaped wall. Five universal testing machines with capacities ranging from 1 kips to 1,000 kips are available for mechanical characterization of materials. Additionally, one of the universal testing machines is equipped with an environmental chamber with a temperature range of -200 °F to 600 °F for thermo-mechanical testing of materials under loads of up to 110 kips. A dedicated room with all the necessary infrastructure (drains, ventilation, etc.) is available for mixing and casting cementitious materials. SMRL also has a salt spraying chamber, a moist cure chamber and two high range ovens for materials curing, conditioning and long-term durability testing. In terms of data acquisition and sensors, a wide range of instrumentation and supplemental equipment for measurements of load, deflection and strain is available.
University Park Campus
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Kaprielian Hall, room B39
3620 S. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2531
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