Real-time hybrid simulation using analogue electronic computer technology

Abstract

In the field of structural dynamics, real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) continues to receive increased interest from researchers conducting component testing incorporating system-level behaviour. Increased digital computing power has allowed advances in RTHS. However, limitations in RTHS will persist due to the effects of discrete errors caused by quantisation and corresponding numerical integration time step limitations, which can limit the bandwidth and nonlinearities of the system studied. In this paper, an analogue electronic computer is constructed to conduct RTHS of a modelled base-isolated structure with a physically tested viscous damping device. The analogue computer models a two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) structure and solves the equations of motion required in RTHS testing. Results of the RTHS tests using the analogue computer are compared to RTHS tests implemented with a digital computer in order to validate the proposed analogue RTHS method. Further applications of RTHS testing with analogue computing including high-frequency dynamic testing are discussed.