Control nodes based loading method: a versatile approach for multi-degree-of-freedom loading inquasi-static tests and hybrid simulations (vol 52, pg 3, 2023)

In quasi-static and hybrid tests, accurate reproduction of structural responses often requires multi-degree-of-freedom (multi-DOF) loading methods. A successful loading method should not only be used on specific specimens for research purposes, but also be applicable to all possible types of specimen and testing setups for engineering purposes. However, for different specimens, the concerned nodes and DOFs differ in size, leading to non-uniform kinematic transformation between the Cartesian system and the actuators/transducers coordinate systems. While for different testing setups, the type of loading targets on each DOF varies, they can be displacement or force. These diversities together make it difficult to achieve versatility in applying loading methods. To address this challenge, a control nodes based loading method was proposed. This method was constructed based on the viewpoint that any specimen can be treated as a combination of several control nodes, and the loading loop should be constructed on each control node. In this method, at first, the loading targets, actuators and external transducers were assigned to each control node accordingly. Then, the loading loops were constructed based on each control node instead of the entire specimen DOFs, which is capable of achieving uniform kinematic transformation and also convenient to apply redundant controlling. Finally, all the control nodes were assembled in one closed loop to support mixed force-displacement loading considering the coupling of multiple DOFs. Hybrid tests and quasi-static tests of a full-scale steel frame were carried out to demonstrate the accuracy and feasibility of the proposed loading method.