Phase and Amplitude Error Indices (PAEI) to Assess the Success of Displacement Based Real-Time Testing

Abstract

Real-time Pseudodynamic (PSD) and hybrid PSD testing methods are essential tools in understanding the dynamic behaviour of load-rate sensitive structures. In these testing methods, the response of the structure is obtained by combining computer simulation with physical testing. Since the measured signals are used in the command generation, these methods are prone to propagation of error; which, if not handled properly, may render the test results inaccurate and sometimes unstable. For that reason, there is a pressing need to develop measures by which the degree of accuracy of the real-time test results is to be assessed. The scope of this paper is to present a general, simple and invariant method for deriving improved error indices which are able to estimate the amount of phase and amplitude errors independently and through closed-form equations. These indices are also compared to previous error indicators to investigate their capability of assessing the success of real-time PSD tests.