The Fritz Engineering Laboratory, designated as an American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Civil Engineering Landmark Structure, features 800,000 lb and 5,000,000 lb universal testing machines, a dynamic test bed with broad fatigue-testing capabilities, and a wide range of instrumentation. The laboratory was founded in 1909 and enlarged to the present capacity in 1954. 

5,000,000 lb machine capabilities:
  • Ram stroke: 35 inches
  • Max ram speed: 3 inches/minute
  • Max tension length: 37 feet
  • Max compression height: 40 feet
  • Max width: 9ft - 11 inches
Pillar breaking during a test