ABSTRACT
This chapter helps the reader in understanding some of the practical considerations and reviews some of the apparatus and techniques available to the centrifuge modeller. There are many different types of centrifuges, used for example in material processing, aeronautics and motion simulation. The geotechnical centrifuge is characterised by its rugged nature, large payload capability and low-speed operation. Beam centrifuges traditionally rotate in a horizontal plane. The acceleration field acting on the model is the resultant of the centrifuge acceleration field and the Earth's gravitational field. Restrained platforms are used, for example, on the Cambridge University and ISMES beam centrifuges. The design should include how communication is established with the test package and how the model will be affected by the centrifuge environment. The payload capacity occupied by the actuator and other devices can be reduced by placing sub-systems away from the test package on either the centrifuge rotor or off the centrifuge.
