Review on the interaction between shaking table and specimen: the effects and control methods

Utilizing earthquake simulation shaking tables for structural seismic testing enables real-time replication of diverse ground motions in a laboratory-controlled environment. However, beyond inherent electro-hydraulic servo system nonlinearities, shaking table-specimen dynamic interaction during testing significantly impacts frequency response characteristics of the shaking table system and compromises waveform reproduction accuracy. The shaking table-specimen interaction consequently increases discrepancies between output signals and desired input signals. This paper comprehensively reviews development and current research on shaking table-specimen interaction, focusing on two critical aspects: the shaking table-specimen interaction effects on system performance and corresponding proposed compensation and control strategies. The findings can serve as a key reference for enhancing waveform reproduction accuracy in electro-hydraulic servo earthquake simulation shaking table tests.