Dr. Wendelin H. Mueller

The focus of Dr. Mueller's research is on the performance of structures, structural components and equipment when subjected to static and dynamic loads. The dynamic loads are the results of seismic events and the environment, e.g. office vibration, shipping, etc. The seismic loading of most interest is specified by Network Equipment-Building System (NEBS) and by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

NEBS is the specification that sets the requirements of communication equipment while IEEE is used to test and analyze electrical sub-substation equipment for the electrical power transmission industry. Mueller's work also uses ground motion from actual seismic events in the analysis and tests.

The performance of the structures, structural components and/or equipment is determined analytically and by tests. The analytical work uses commercial computer programs and/or those written by Mueller. The dynamic testing is done on a seismic shake table located in the Civil Engineering - Seismic Testing and Applied Research (STAR) laboratory. The seismic table is 3 M X 3 M with one degree of freedom and is capable of testing a 20,000 lb. specimen. The testing at high frequency uses a 250 lbs. force electromagnetic shaker capable of 3,000 Hz. As a side note, if a failure occurs, the STAR laboratory team has the expertise to recommend and implement modifications to strengthen the specimen.

Specific structures, structural components and/or equipment recently tested and/or analyzed include:
Communication Racks
Electrical Transmission Sub-station Electronic Equipment Racks
Seismic Isolators for Electrical Transmission Sub-station Equipment
Electronic Communication Equipment
Three Spans of a Double Circuit Electronic Transmission Line including the conductor and two River Crossing Towers
Computer Tables
Sub-station Equipment Stands

Another related project is the full-scale tests and analysis of a curved beam to determine the changes in strength that occurs because of the bending process.

Recent Publications:
Gobo, G., Kempner, L. and Mueller, W., “Performance of Electric Transmission Structures During Earthquakes,” Proceedings of 1999 ASCE Structures Congress, New Orleans, April 1999.

Albi, F., Kempner, L., Mueller, W., and Starkel, D., “Performance of High-Voltage Electrical Equipment Seismic Connection with Rigid Bus Conductor,” Proceedings of 8th Canadian Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Vancouver, B.C., June, 1999.

Nichols, C., Albi, F., Kempner, L., Mueller, W., and Reiner, G., “Seismic Performance Evaluation of Computer Tables”, Proceedings of 5th U.S. Conference on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering, Seattle, WA, August, 1999.

Kempner, L., Mueller, W., Kitipornchai, S, Albermani, F., deMenezes, R. and da Silva, J., “Lattice Transmission Tower Analysis: Beyond Simple Truss Model”, Proceedings of the ASCE ESI conference on the Electrical Transmission in a New Age, Omaha NE, Sept., 2002.

Riley, M., Kempner, L., Mueller, W., and Gobo, G., “A Comparison of Seismic (Dynamic) and Static Load Cases for Lattice Electrical Transmission Towers”, Proceedings of the ASCE ESI conference on the Electrical Transmission in a New Age, Omaha NE, Sept., 2002.

Kempner, L., Do, T. and Mueller, W., “Lattice Transmission Tower Analysis Moves Beyond the Simple Truss Model”, December 2002 issue of The Electric Light and Power monthly publication.

Kempner, L., Mueller, W. and Hutson, N., “Seismic Evaluation of Hybrid Bus Connections”, Proceedings of the ASCE Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering (TCLEE) conference, Long Beach California, August 2003.

Riley, M., Kempner, L. and Mueller, W., “A Comparison of Seismic (Dynamic) and Static Load Cases for Electric Transmission Structures”, Proceedings of the ASCE Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering (TCLEE) conference, Long Beach California, August 2003.

Research Reports:

Albi, F., Kempner, L., Mueller, W. and Nichols, C., “Seismic Qualification of Computer Tables for Lower Story Usage,” for the Bonneville Power Administration, April, 1999.

Albi, F., Kempner, L., Mueller, W., and Nichols, C., “Seismic Performance Evaluation of Computer Tables”, for ANTHRO Technology Furniture, Tualatin, OR, April, 1999.

Pfau, E., Mueller, W. and Zareh, H., “Full-Scale Performance Test of Diamond Curve Technology Curved Beam”, for Marks Metal Technology, Clackamas, OR, May 1999.

Mueller, W., “Transportation Environment Test of Mobile View II Digital Video Recorder”, for KALATEL CCTV Components, Corvallis, OR and Braun Intertec Corp., Portland, OR, July, 1999.

Mueller, W., and Zareh, H., “Non-Linear Finite Element Modeling and Analysis of Diamond Curved Beam”, for Marks Metal Technology, Clackamas, OR, August, 1999.

Mueller, W., “Final Reports: Analysis and Full Scale Test of Diamond Curved Beam”, for Marks Metal Technology, Clackamas, OR, September, 1999.

Mueller, W., “Vibration Test of Ten Rocker Switches”, for Sprague Controls, Inc., Canby, OR, October, 1999.

Zareh, H. and Mueller, W., “Non-Linear Finite Element Model and Analysis of Three Point Bent Beam”, for Marks Metal Technology, Clackamas, OR, October, 1999.

Mueller, W. and Johnson, S., “Testing of Gas Springs for Vibration Durability”, for Gunderson, Inc. Portland, OR, January, 2000.

Mueller, W., “BellCore Test of Channel and Panel Electrical Equipment Racks”, for Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Camas, WA, February, 2000.

Mueller, W., “BellCore Test of Support System”, for Advanced Support Systems, Inc. Tomball, TX, March, 2000.

Nichols, C., Mueller, W. and Kempner, L., “Seismic Performance Evaluation of the Bowthorpe Surge Arrester”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, OR, March, 2000.

Mueller, W. and McFeron, T., “Test of Refrigerator Car Panels”, for Gunderson, Inc. Portland, OR, May, 2000.

Johnson, S. and Mueller, W., “Gunderson Composite Deck Test”, for Gunderson, Inc. Portland, OR, June, 2000.

Johnson, S., Mueller, W. and Kempner, L., “Seismic Test and Analysis of BPA Equipment Stands”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, July, 2000.

McFeron, T., Mueller, W. and Kempner, L., “Seismic Performance Evaluation of the Siemens Surge Arrester”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, August, 2000.

McFeron, T., Mueller, W. and Kempner, L., “Seismic Performance Evaluation of the Asea Brown Boveri Surge Arrester”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, August, 2000.

McFeron, T., Mueller, W. and Kempner, L., “Seismic Performance Evaluation of the Bowthorpe Surge Arrester”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, August, 2000.

McFeron, T., Mueller, W. and Kempner, L., “Seismic Performance Evaluation of the Ohio Brass Surge Arrester”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, August, 2000.

McFeron, T., Mueller, W. and Kempner, L., “Seismic Performance Evaluation of the General Electric Surge Arrester”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, August, 2000.

Empry, S. and Mueller, W., “Valmont/Microflect Flange Connection Test”, for ValmontMicroflect Co. Inc., Salem, OR, March, 2001.

Hamel, C., Johnson, S., Mueller, W., et. al., “NWS Traffic Engineering Single Pole Failure Testing”, for the City of Portland, Portland, RO, May, 2001.

Heith, H., Mueller, W. and Kempner, L., “Seismic Parametric Study of Computer Cabinets on Base Isolators”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, June, 2001.

Mueller, W., “Bench and Rack Seismic Test”, for Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA, February, 2002.

Orth, E., Mueller, W. and Kempner L.,“Seismic Test and Analysis of a BPA Standard Equipment Support Stand”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, April, 2002.

Riley, M., E., Mueller, W. and Kempner L., “Equipment Stand with Ringfeder Dampers”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, April, 2002.

Riley, M., Mueller, W., Kempner, L. and Do, T., for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, June 2002.

Orth, E., Mueller, W. and Kempner L., “Seismic Test and Analysis of a BPA Substation Battery Stand”, for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland OR, August, 2002.