A digital twin-based framework for multi-element seismic hybrid simulation of structures

Abstract

This paper proposes a digital twin-based multi-element hybrid simulation (DMHS) framework to predict the nonlinear cyclic response of structural components (digital twin), e.g., seismic fuses, that are not physically tested due to laboratory limitations by leveraging the experimental test data collected from the physical test specimen (physical twin) during hybrid simulation. This data-based simulation approach can address biased results of hybrid simulation of structures that contain multiple critical components while improving the efficiency of the seismic hybrid simulation. The digital twin is trained in two phases: (1) passive (initial) training phase using past experimental test data before the hybrid simulation starts, and (2) recursive model updating phase using the active (real-time) data produced by the physical specimen during hybrid simulation. The passive training is achieved using the Prandtl–Ishlinskii (PI) hysteresis model combined with the sparse identification technique, while the recursive least-squares algorithm is used in the second phase as the model updating scheme. In particular, the sparse identification technique facilitates the selection of the optimal number of hysteretic model parameters in the passive training phase, which are then tuned in the model updating phase. The architecture of the proposed DMHS framework is first presented, followed by digital twin training steps. The application of the proposed DMHS is then demonstrated, and its simulation accuracy is assessed through virtual hybrid simulation of a two-storey steel buckling-restrained braced frame, which consists of a digital twin (second-storey brace) and a virtual experimental specimen (first-storey brace) integrated into the numerical model of the structure that is subjected to a set of earthquake ground motion accelerations. The results obtained from the verification study serve to validate the proposed architecture of the DMHS framework and evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of this technique in simulating the nonlinear seismic response of structural systems.