G MS THESIS_final version_Maxim Prokudin.pdf - Digital Repository ...

42Thus, the design system allowed free movement in any X-Y horizontal direction and wascapable of positioning the hydraulic jack in any desirable test bed location.It is important to note that while at rest, the only vertical force within the system was thegravitational weight of the beam transmitted to the L-shape angles. However, during the piertesting, the load imposed by the hydraulic jack was directed upward and had to becounterbalanced by the structural elements big enough to withhold a much greater load.Therefore, a series of two C15x50 channels mounted on the walls directly above the beamwere used to support the imposed load.Figure 19: Load frame schematic drawing (isometric)