Hybrid simulation with numerical model updating

Hybrid simulation combines numerical and experimental methods for cost-effective, large-scale testing of structures under simulated earthquake loading. It is often assumed that a reliable model exists for the numerical substructures while the experimental substructures correspond to parts of the structure that are difficult to model. A wealth of data becomes available during the simulation from the measured experiment response that can be used to improve upon the numerical models, particularly if a component with similar structural configuraiton and material properities is being tested and subjected to a comparable load pattern. To take advantage of experimental measurements, a new hybrid test framework is proposed in which an updating scheme is implemented to update the initial modeling parameters of the numerical model based on the instantaneously-measured response of the experimental substructures as the test progresses. An actual hybrid simulations of a structural frame model including a physical substructure in the laboratory and a numerical substructure that is updated during the tests. A simple model is analyzed here to demonstrate the concept. The experimental substructure consists of a cantilever specimen with a replaceable nonlinear hinge.