COMPARISON OF SCALED HYBRID SIMULATIONS AND SHAKING TABLE TESTS ON A 2-SPAN REINFORCED CONCRETE BRIDGE

Abstract

Hybrid simulation is a testing paradigm combining experimental and computational simulations through a hybrid model which comprises scaled physical and numerical representation of various parts of a structural system. The physical and numerical elements interact within a single model by satisfying the displacement compatibility and the force equilibrium at the common nodes. Hybrid simulation offers numerous advantages, including cost savings and a deeper understanding of complex structures. In this paper, an investigation has been carried out to study the effect of scaling on the accuracy of hybrid simulations of a 2-span reinforced concrete highway bridge. The experimental program included hybrid simulations on 1/10, 1/8 and 1/6 scaled models of a two-span reinforced concrete bridge loaded to failure under seven (7) consecutive seismic events. The seismic motions replicating the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California, were applied with progressively increasing amplitudes. The results of shaking table tests on a 1/4 scaled model of the bridge were used to study the accuracy and reliability of different scales of the hybrid simulations.