Date of Award

12-2012

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering

Department

Civil and Construction Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Xiaoyun Shao

Second Advisor

Dr. Haluk Aktan

Third Advisor

Dr. Upul Attanayake

Keywords

Hybrid, simulation, earthquake, structural, engineering

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Pseudodynamic hybrid simulation technique was developed to evaluate structural seismic performance by physically testing the critical portion with the remaining structure simulated using a numerical model in the computer. An incremental approach was adopted in developing the control scheme to suit multiple testing facilities and test specimens. First the small scale, predictable specimen was utilized to investigate techniques of improving stability, slowing down the loading rate and triggering the accurate force measurement in a series of at benchmark scale experiments in the Laboratory of Earthquake and Structural Simulation at Western Michigan University (WMU). A step/hold command scheme was developed and results matched well to those obtained from the purely numerical simulations of the analytical model setup based on the cyclic tests. Then a series of open and closed loop PSD hybrid simulations of increasing amplitude were conducted at large scale in the Structural Engineering Laboratory at University of Alabama. A ramp/hold displacement command scheme with flexible definition on the ramp phase were developed to the address the excessive vibrations due to the very high speed actuator. The final control scheme was applied the large scale PSD hybrid simulation of a two story wood frame building with a physical first story wood shear wall and numerical second story and reasonable seismic response were achieved. The results of this study serve as a basis for developing the simulation technique for the large scale hybrid simulation that that will be conducted at the NEES equipment site at the University of Buffalo.

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