Structural and Behaviour Constraints of Shaking Table Experiments

Abstract

Large scale experiments performed on seismic shaking tables in the last 40 years have significantly influenced the development of earthquake engineering in general. They provide very useful information on materials, joints, elements and the overall structural behaviour when subjected to different earthquake motions in controllable laboratory conditions. Based on this information great improvement has been made in the modelling and physical understanding of the structural behaviour of different structural systems. These improvements, in turn, have enhanced the seismic design code practice. Based on a large number of performed tests, the purpose of experimentation could be classified in the following categories: testing of physical models for better understanding of the dynamic behaviour of structures, development of technologies in earthquake engineering, and proof and seismic qualification tests of vital mechanical and electrical equipment. In this paper a critical analysis of tests performed in Dynamic Testing Laboratory at Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology–IZIIS, Skopje, R. Macedonia, is done from the point of view of the constraints present in using shaking tables for different testing categories.