Research Projects

Hybrid simulation is a combination of experimental and numerical techniques in which the structure to be analyzed is divided into two parts: experimental substructure (ES) and numerical substructure (NS). Only critical part of the structure is considered as experimental substructure (ES) and is tested in the laboratory. The remaining part of the structure is considered as NS and is modelled numerically. At each time step of integration, there is transfer of data between the ES and the NS. The present work aims to implement the hybrid simulation method on a uniaxial shake table test system available in PI’s host institution. The entire focus of the project lies in facilitating a connection between the ES and NS i.e., the controller driving the shake table and the finite element model of the NS. To establish this connection a middleware OpenFresco is used. Since the test takes place in real time there is a requirement of high-speed data transfer between the two substructures. It is proposed to integrate Speedgoat real time simulation and testing hardware with the existing shake table controller for this purpose. The predictor corrector algorithm for high-speed data transfer will be developed on Simulink. The hybrid simulation test procedure will be demonstrated on a building frame with tuned mass damper at the top. The damper will be tested on shake table while the rest of the building will be modeled using ABAQUS.