11 Mar 2024

Earthquake testing in a giant shaking lab in China

From Nine To Noon, 9:15 am on 11 March 2024

New Zealand engineers and researchers have been at one of the world's biggest earthquake laboratories in Shanghai to test low-impact solutions for earthquake resilience.

The Chinese lab at Tongji University can simulate the effect of earthquakes on three-storey buildings and is one of the world's biggest laboratories of its type. Engineers and researchers from the Earthquake Commission, Building Research Association of New Zealand and Auckland and Canterbury universities took their building innovations to test at the Chinese facility. 

Professor Greg MacRae, who co-ordinated the ongoing research, spoke to Kathryn about some of the innovations. The Earthquake Commission's head of research Natalie Balfour joined the conversation and spoke about how the research could be used to improve earthquake strengthening and building resilience. 

Researchers analyse the test results at the earthquake laboratory in Shanghai.

Photo: Supplied