Real‐time hybrid simulation of a space substructure based on high‐strength steel composite Y‐eccentrically braced frames

Abstract

Real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) is a novel structural seismic test method that has good application prospects. The applicability of RTHS for large-scale space frame structures is further investigated in this study based on high-strength steel composite Y-eccentrically braced frames (Y-HSS-EBFs). First, an RTHS system was established, which included OpenSees, OpenFresco, an xPC-Target, and an electrohydraulic servo control system. An adaptive feedforward delay compensator based on displacement prediction was introduced. Then, a shaking table test model of a three-story Y-HSS-EBF was taken as the prototype, the third-story frame with the strongest nonlinear performance was taken as the experimental substructure, and the remaining two stories were taken as the numerical substructure in order to perform the RTHS. The results of the RTHS were compared with those obtained in a purely numerical model and a shaking table test, and the stability of the RTHS system was analyzed. The results indicate that the RTHS results are in good agreement with the numerical simulation results and that RTHS can be used to obtain results similar to the ones obtained using the shaking table. In the typical seismic testing frequencies and the mass distribution ranges of the substructures, the RTHS system displayed good stability and reliability and was able to effectively evaluate the seismic performance of large-scale space frame structures.