The University of Guam School of Engineering has secured a $275,081 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation Program to purchase a state-of-the-art structural testing machine, significantly expanding its research, education and workforce training capabilities.
The funding will go toward acquiring a 250-kilonewton Universal Testing Machine (UTM), capable of measuring the strength and behavior of construction materials such as concrete, steel, timber and composite systems. “We’ve never had the capacity for this kind of testing on island,” said Dr. Ernesto Guades, assistant professor of civil engineering and principal investigator of the project. “This new equipment opens the door to deeper research and better preparation for our engineering students.”
The UTM will be incorporated into undergraduate engineering courses and will support interdisciplinary research, teacher training workshops, summer STEM camps and industry partnerships. It will also be used for outreach programs to engage K–12 students and underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
With the ability to perform test-to-failure experiments on both small and large-scale materials, the new machine will benefit researchers in structural and mechanical engineering, materials science and additive manufacturing. Officials say the investment will help build local capacity for infrastructure innovation and resilience across the islands.