Real-time Hybrid Simulation of Disconnect Switches on a Shaking Table

These tests are conducted as a continuation of the theoretical developments. The effect of support structure stiffness and damping on the response of the jaw, rigid and rotating posts of a 245 kV disconnect switch is investigated in open and closed configurations of the switch. The support structure is modeled as an analytical substructure, while the disconnect switch is tested on a unidirectional shaking table as the experimental support structure. A parametric study is conducted by changing the analytical model properties for the investigation of the effect of support structure stiffness and damping. Some key findings are listed as follows:
1) The jaw post strains are larger in the closed configuration for almost all of the support structures. This is mainly because of the added blade mass and the corresponding increase in the inertia force. Same observation does not apply to the rigid post because the rigid post experiences the inertia force due to the blade mass in both configurations.
2) Torsional mode of vibration is excited in the closed configuration due to the different stiffness of the jaw post on one side and the rigid and rotating posts on the other side. This torsional mode dominates the response as evidenced by the occurrence of the largest amount of peak strains around the torsional frequency.
3) Rotating post strains are significantly smaller than those of the jaw and rigid posts.
4) In the open configuration:
The largest peak strain of the rigid post occurs for the support structure with the frequency closest to the natural frequency of the rigid post, rotating post and blade assembly.
The largest peak strain of the jaw post occurs for the support structure with the frequency close to the natural frequency of the jaw post.
5) Damping does not have a significant effect on the response.