Real Time Hybrid Simulation of One Bay Frame Using OpenFresco

Hybrid simulation is a dynamic testing technique for structural systems which are not amenable for testing as a whole in the laboratory. In hybrid simulation, only critical part of structure is tested in the laboratory while the remaining part is modelled using finite element method. The study investigates the application of hybrid simulation method for simulating the seismic response of structures. A numerical framework is developed for conducting real time hybrid simulation using a servo hydraulic actuator. OpenFresco is used as middleware between the experimental substructure and the numerical substructure which is modelled in MATLAB. Illustrative example consists of numerical simulation of hybrid testing on a one bay frame model with nonlinear properties. One column of the frame is considered to be nonlinear and is analyzed in OpenFresco. The results of OpenFresco simulation are validated with pure numerical simulations using Explicit Newmark integration scheme.