NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Pseudodynamic Test Method for Seismic Performance Evaluation: Theory and Implementation.
- File
- PB84190644.pdf
- Author(s)
- Shing, P. S. B.; Mahin, S. A.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC., January 1984, 172 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- UCB/EERC-84/01
- Abstract
- The pseudodynamic test method is a relatively new experimental technique for evaluating the seismic performance of structural models in a laboratory by means of on-line computer control simulation. It is especially efficient for testing structures that are too large, heavy, or strong to be tested on available shaking tables. In the first part of this report, the fundamental theory of the pseudodynamic test method is examined. The adequacy of the analytical assumptions, and the reliability of the numerical methods are evaluated. The results of these studies provide useful guidelines for the selection of appropriate test specimens and realistic analytical models. The stability, accuracy, and error-propagation characteristics of numerical integration methods used in pseudodynamic testing are investigated, and guidelines for selecting appropriate integration time steps are obtained. Numerical techniques for suppressing error-propagation effects are presented. The second part discusses an implementation scheme for the pseudodynamic method. Some useful features of computer software are mentioned. The performance characteristics of necessary equipment are described and instrumentation precautions are pointed out. The last part presents the results of pseudodynamic tests recently performed at Berkeley. The results of these tests are correlated with analytical and shaking table test results for verifying the capability and reliability of the method.
- Keywords
- Computers; Control equipment; Computerized simulation; Numerical integration; Earthquake engineering; Structural models; Software; Simulation; Dynamic structural analysis