A hybrid testing system based on finite element software OpenSEES

Hybrid testing methods are used world-widely to disclose accurately and economically a seismic performances of structures,and play more and more important roles in seismic investigations nowadays.However,the numerical substructures are normally simulated with simple linear models,and the result accuracy is greatly reduced if serious elastic-plastic deformation occurs in structures when suffering a strong earthquake.To solve this problem,here,numerical substructures were simulated by using a professional finite element software OpenSEES.A hybrid testing system using the finite element software OpenSEES,the interface software OpenFresco,and the experimental control software dSPACE was proposed,and its effectiveness and accuracy were validated numerically and experimentally.It was shown that OpenSEES,OpenFresco,and dSPACE can work well together to conduct hybrid tests,and the proposed hybrid testing system has better stability and accuracy.