ISERRT Facility
The Infrastructure Security and Emergency Responder Research and Training (ISERRT) Facility supports critical infrastructure research where controlled blast, impact, ballistics, and fire tests can be performed on structures and structural components to assess and enhance their performance in addition to supporting the development of new products, design, and construction techniques.
The facility features an open-arena blast test site with a 4.3 m tall by 3.4 m wide, free-standing reaction frame connected to a strong-floor foundation; a geotechnical pit is available for soil-structure interaction problems.
Additionally, the facility facilitates training of emergency responders as well as research and development of technologies pertaining to situational awareness, detection/prevention/mitigation of disasters, search and rescue effectiveness, and enhanced safety of responders.
The ISERRT Facility is a joint venture of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNC Charlotte and the Gastonia Police Department. The ISERRT Facility is approximately a 30 minute drive from the UNC Charlotte campus.
For inquiries pertaining to research and development, contact Dr. David C. Weggel; for inquiries pertaining to training and response readiness, contact Captain Edward J. Turas.
Services
- Blast, impact, ballistics, and fire testing
- Product enhancement/development; design/construction validation
- Experimental design and engineering services
- Analytical support
- Computational mechanics (solid and fluid mechanics simulations, blast load prediction, equation of state determination)
- Simplified algorithms (mathematical models and preliminary design equations)
- Signal processing
- Heavy civil equipment, power tools, and university laboratory support
- Training for first responders and bomb squad technicians
- Conference facilities on the premises (under construction)
Specialized Instrumentation and Sensing Equipment
Primary Contacts
Dr. David C. Weggel, P.E., A.M. ASCE
Director of Research & Development, ISERRT Facility
Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223
Phone: 704-687-1238
FAX: 704-687-0957
dcweggel@charlotte.edu
Captain Edward J. Turas
Director of Training and Response Readiness, ISERRT Facility
Commander of the GPD Bomb Squad
Gastonia Police Department
200 E. Long Ave.
Gastonia, NC 28053
Phone: 704-866-6937 (office)
Phone: 704-913-6829 (mobile)
FAX: 704-866-6892
turas_ed@cityofgastonia.com
Key Researchers
Dr. Harish Cherukuri, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Computational solid mechanics, dynamic behavior of materials, and plasticity
hcheruku@charlotte.edu
https://coefs.uncc.edu/hcheruku/
Dr. Howie Fang, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Computational mechanics, crash modeling and simulation, and design optimization
hfang@charlotte.edu
https://coefs.uncc.edu/hfang/
Dr. Russell G. Keanini, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Applied mathematics, physics, and probabilistic analysis and structural survivability
rkeanini@charlotte.edu
https://coefs.uncc.edu/rkeanini/
Dr. Praveen Ramaprabhu, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Computational Fluid Dynamics, Numerical methods for hyberbolic problems, shock-driven hydrodynamic instabilities, shock-material interaction
pramapra@charlotte.edu
https://coefs.charlotte.edu/pramapra/
Dr. Miguel Pando, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Geotechnical materials, soil-structure interaction, and soil dynamics
mpando@charlotte.edu
Dr. Matthew J. Whelan, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Instrumentation, experimental system identification, and structural health monitoring
M.Whelan@charlotte.edu
https://coefs.uncc.edu/mwhelan3/
Dr. David C. Weggel, Professor of Civil Engineering (Director, ISERRT Facility)
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Blast and impact testing, computational mechanics, and structural dynamics
dcweggel@charlotte.edu
https://coefs.uncc.edu/dcweggel/
Mr. Corey Rice, ISERRT Research Associate
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Computational mechanics and experimental work
Staff
Field Engineer
Dr. Youngjin Park, EPIC Lab Engineer
(supports ISERRT projects that are also aligned with EPIC initiatives)
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Technician
Mr. Mike Moss, Research Operations Manager
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Collaborators
ISERRT researchers value collaborations with the following people and organizations.
Dr. Daniel Linzell, P.E., Professor and Chair
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Department of Civil Engineering
Dr. Luis A. Godoy, Professor
National University of Cordoba, Argentina
Department of Structures
Cordoba, Argentina
Dr. Michelle S. Hoo Fatt, Professor
The University of Akron
Mechanical Engineering Department
Friends
The following organizations are friends of the ISERRT Facility. Without their generous gifts and in-kind services, development of the facility would not have been possible.
- Concrete Supply Company, Charlotte, NC
- Crowder Construction Company, Charlotte, NC
- GRATEC, Inc., Fort Mill, SC, www.gratec.net
- Refabco, Inc., Charlotte, NC
- SteelFab, Inc., Charlotte, NC, www.steelfab-inc.com
- Union Glass and Metal, Inc., Fort Mill, SC, www.unionglassandmetal.com
- Zapata Incorporated, Charlotte, NC, www.zapatainc.com
Media – Slideshows
Reaction Frame
Steel Plate Blast Tests
