Recent developments and discoveries in natural hazards mitigation research at the NHERI Lehigh Experimental Facility

Natural hazards, including hurricanes and earthquakes, can escalate into catastrophic societal events due to the destruction of the built environment. To minimize the impact of such hazards on vulnerable communities, civil infrastructure must be designed with performance criteria that prioritize public safety and ensure continuous operation. The National Science Foundation funded Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) program focuses on advancing the development of resilient infrastructure. The NHERI Lehigh Real-time Multi-directional Simulation Experimental Facility (EF) is one of the facilities within this program. The facility serves as an open-access research hub, offering advanced technologies and engineering tools to develop innovative solutions for natural hazard mitigation. It is uniquely equipped to perform large-scale, multi-directional structural testing in real-time using a cyber-physical simulation technique known as real-time hybrid simulation. This technique enables researchers to model entire systems subjected to dynamic loads at a full scale, allowing for realistic assessments of infrastructure responses to specific hazard scenarios and the development of effective mitigation strategies. This paper explores how cyber-physical simulation has revolutionized research in natural hazards engineering and its influence on engineering practices. It highlights several ongoing projects at the NHERI Lehigh EF aimed at enhancing community resilience in hazard-prone regions. The paper also discusses the planned expansion of the EF, which aims to broaden its focus to include a wider range of natural hazards, and infrastructure systems. This expansion will incorporate both physical and computational resources to enhance the understanding of fluid interactions in combined natural hazards and climate change impacts on coastal and offshore infrastructure. The NHERI Lehigh EF represents a transformative facility that is reshaping natural hazards research and will continue to play a pivotal role in the development of risk management strategies for more resilient communities.