Real‐time hybrid experiments with Newmark integration, MCSmd outer‐loop control and multi‐tasking strategies

TLDR

Real‑time hybrid testing splits a structure into physical components and a numerical model that run in parallel, enabling large‑scale, correctly‑loaded testing of critical elements, but so far has been limited to simple configurations with approximate delay compensation. This study presents a hybrid testing approach that permits non‑linearity in both physical and numerical models and supports multiple interfaces, even under stiff actuator coupling. The method employs a Newmark explicit solver, the adaptive MCSmd controller, and a multi‑tasking strategy, and is validated on discrete mass‑spring experiments. © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract Real‐time hybrid testing is a promising technique for experimental structural dynamics, in which the structure under consideration is split into a physical test of key components and a numerical model of the remainder. The physical test and numerical analysis proceed in parallel, in real time, enabling testing of critical elements at large scale and at the correct loading rate. To date most real‐time hybrid tests have been restricted to simple configurations and have used approximate delay compensation schemes. This paper describes a real‐time hybrid testing approach in which non‐linearity is permitted in both the physical and numerical models, and in which multiple interfaces between physical and numerical substructures can be accommodated, even when this results in very stiff coupling between actuators. This is achieved using a Newmark explicit numerical solver, an advanced adaptive controller known as MCSmd and a multi‐tasking strategy. The approach is evaluated through a series of experiments on discrete mass–spring systems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.