Experimental testing of large scale structural models and components using innovative shake table, dynamic, real-time hybrid simulation and multi-directional loading techniques

The paper describes seismic experimental programs that have been recently conducted in the new Hydro-Quebec Structural Engineering testing facility at Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal, Canada. A shake table test setup has been developed for multi-storey building models and testing has been completed on full-scale two-storey steel frame/wood sheathed shear wall and reducedscale eight-storey reinforced concrete shear wall models. Seismic dynamic testing of large scale roof deck diaphragm specimens and real time dynamic sub-structuring testing of seismic dampers and isolators for bridge structures are also described. The test setup used for the multiaxis testing of rectangular bridge piers subjected to bi-directional seismic loading is discussed. Future expansion of the multi-directional testing capability of the laboratory is introduced. . INTRODUCTION The Structural Engineering Laboratory at Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal has been significantly extended in the 2002-05 period. The new facility includes 525 m net strong floor area, a 10 m tall L-shaped reaction wall with two 12 m long wings, an uniaxial earthquake simulator, a multi-purpose tension/compression 12 MN load frame with 3 m wide x 8 m tall test space, a series of high performance actuators, and a real time hybrid control system. Several test programs have now been undertaken and completed in the laboratory on various large-scale structural systems. A majority of these experimental studies have been performed to examine the seismic behaviour of different seismic force resisting systems for building or bridge structures. The tests also aimed at validating numerical simulation tools that are used to assess the seismic performance and inelastic response of these systems. In several of these experimental studies, the seismic induced loading was applied dynamically to take into account possible strain rate dependencies or investigate the dynamic response of the structural systems studied. The real-time sub-structuring testing technique has been implemented and used in some of these tests. In other tests, multiple actuators were used to reproduce the multi-directional force and displacement demand from earthquakes. This paper outlines techniques that have been used in selected past test programs, with focus on an innovative shake table test setup that has been developed for multi-storey building models. Seismic dynamic testing, real-time hybrid simulation, and multi-axis testing applications are also briefly described, 1 Group for Research in Structural Engineering, Dept. of Civil Geological and Mining Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique; Montreal, QC, Canada 2 Dept. of Applied Mech. and Civil Engineering, McGill Univ.; Montreal, QC, Canada 3 Dept. of Construction Engineering, Ecole de Technologie Superieure; Montreal, QC, Canada 4 Dept. of Civil Engineering, Universite de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke, QC, Canada