Structures under pseudodynamic action

Summary

With the pseudodynamic test method it is possible to simulate the dynamic behavior of a structure with a static test. The equation of motion of a computer model of the test specimen is integrated incrementally during the experiment. For each step of the integration, inertial and damping forces are calculated analytically while the nonlinear restoring forces are measured.

Pseudodynamic tests have the advantage over dynamic tests on a shake table, in that masses only exist in the computer model. Therefore, larger specimens can be tested without overly complicated considerations of the masses in the test set-up. Similarly, multidimensional excitations are possible with moderate effort. For pseudodynamic testing, it is required that the material properties are not significantly affected by the strain rate. For seismic excitation, strain rate effects are generally small for most construction materials.

Initial experiments provided a functioning test-setup. The results from the initial experiments matched theoretical results as well as findings from shake table tests.

To show the influence of reinforcement ratio and normal force on the earthquake behavior of RC structural walls three tests were conducted. The experiments showed that the influence is significant and should be considered for the earthquake design of structural walls.

Staff

Prof. Dr. Hugo Bachmann (Guideance)
Dr. Klaus Thiele
Dr. Thomas Wenk

Support

Stiftung des Vereins Schweizerischer Zement-, Kalk- und Gips-Fabrikanten VSZKGF, Zürich (Foundation of Swiss Cement Manufacturers)
Kommission für Technologie und Innovation KTI, Bern (Commission for Technology and Innovation)