Development of Software and Hardware Architecture for Real-Time Dynamic Hybrid Testing and Application to a Base Isolated Structure

Real-Time Dynamic Hybrid Test (RTDHT) is a promising experimental testing technique, which combines numerical simulation and experimental testing of physical specimen in a complementary and efficient way. However, taking advantage of both numerical and experimental capabilities requires facing issues related to both environments. In this article, the design and implementation of a RTDHT hardware and software architecture is presented. Issues related both to the numerical model and to the experimental setup are discussed; this is done from a general perspective, as well as referring to a base isolated structure which represents the implemented case study.