Establishment of Shock Table Testing Facility at IOE Pulchowk for Earthquake-Resilient Building Research in Nepal

Project Name: Supply of Equipment and Instruments, UNDP/RFQ/23/2020 – Round 2
Project Ref.: MSI-PRJ-76-2152
Client: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Location: Institute of Engineering (IOE), Pulchowk, Kathmandu

Following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, UNDP and Mahavir Shree International Pvt. Ltd. (MSIPL) established the country’s first Shock Table Testing Facility at the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk. This national-level installation enables controlled simulation of seismic forces to study building performance and improve earthquake-resilient design. Equipped with advanced instruments for precise measurement of acceleration, displacement, and impact forces, the facility underwent rigorous calibration to ensure accuracy. The project provides critical data for safer construction practices, strengthens local research capacity, and enhances Nepal’s disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience.

Technical Implementation

The shock table testing facility includes the following technical components:

✓ KS48C Accelerometers: ±6g range with 1000g overrange protection, designed for low-frequency structural movement measurement.

✓ Multisense Linear Potentiometers (MS-19): Conductive plastic sensors, operational up to +150°C, stroke lengths up to 450mm, IP67 sealing.

✓ ASM Linear Displacement Transducers: High-quality position sensors used for displacement and angle measurement.

✓ Dewetron Trionet Module with Oxygen Software: Modular data acquisition system with reliable high-speed data logging capabilities.

✓ Hioki Memory Hilogger: Electrical measuring instruments for recording data from sensor inputs.

A heavy mass is released at angles between 5–45° to strike a movable plank (shock table), simulating seismic forces. Sensors are precisely positioned to measure acceleration, displacement, and pulse time. These measurements provide input for structural performance evaluations.

Performance and Capabilities

✓ Acceleration Range: Real earthquake-level acceleration measured up to ~1.6g

✓ Displacement Measurement: Achieved using ASM linear transducers

✓ Pulse Time Accuracy: Synchronized with impact forces and motion

✓ Sensor Sensitivity: High precision for capturing minor variations in physical response

✓ System Accuracy: Results closely matched design values

Impacts and Benefits

✓ Enabled simulation of earthquake impacts for structural analysis

✓ Supported design of earthquake-resilient buildings and retrofitting strategies

✓ Facilitated academic and institutional research at a national level

✓ Promoted data-driven disaster preparedness in Nepal

✓ Provided a scalable testing model for future infrastructure development

Conclusion

The installation of the Shock Table at IOE Pulchowk by Mahavir Shree International, with support from UNDP, marks a significant milestone in Nepal’s pursuit of earthquake-resilient infrastructure. By enabling precise replication of seismic conditions and advanced data acquisition, the facility equips engineers and researchers to design safer, more resilient buildings. Beyond addressing present disaster risks, it establishes a strong foundation for a scientifically informed and structurally secure future for Nepal