Water pressure chamber for static testing of panels

An experimental device has been developed for the quasi-static testing of panels exposed to equally distributed pressure loading. This test equipment uses water as the pressure medium and may be operated in several ways. The test facility is described and various operational aspects are discussed. Emphasis has been put on similarity in experimental test conditions and numerical modelling in order to avoid uncertainties that are not deducible from geometrical measurements or materials testing. Examples are presented of tests that have been performed using this water pressure chamber. The experiments have been performed to obtain validation tests for thin-walled corrugated steel panels as well as concrete slabs.(C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.