Recent Advances and Applications of Hybrid Simulation

About this Research Topic

Background

Hybrid simulation is a powerful dynamic testing technique for structural systems. It is usually applied in the case where a structural system is too large or too complex to evaluate using conventional testing techniques (for example, high-rise buildings and long-span bridges), but part of the system can be simulated using numerical models with good accuracy and confidence, and the rest of the system requires physical testing under realistic operational conditions. By integrating physical testing with numerical simulation, hybrid simulation not only provides cost savings and insights into detailed local behavior of the physical subsystem, but also offers a better understanding of the entire complex structure systems, in particular of those systems with multiple components and complex interactions.

As hybrid simulation evolves, several variations have been proposed and further developed to expand the testing capabilities. Traditional hybrid simulation is conducted at an extended time scale, and is applied when the physical subsystem does not exhibit significant rate-dependent behavior. Real-time hybrid simulation is developed for the case where rate dependence plays a significant role in the behavior of the physical subsystem, and it performs real-time execution on high-fidelity numerical simulation, advanced actuator control, and feedback measurement. In addition, by using internet to link geographically distributed facilities, geographically-distributed hybrid simulation and geographically-distributed real-time hybrid simulation expands the type and dimension of the structural systems that can be tested. These hybrid simulation techniques have been demonstrated in isolated cases to further expand the range of possible experiments by coupling multiple laboratories.

So far, a majority of the applications of hybrid simulation have been in earthquake engineering. In recent years, along with the advancement of other engineering fields, more and more researchers have realized its benefits and start the exploration of new hybrid simulation applications. These explorations have brought new capabilities as well as unique challenges to the research community. Through the organization of this Research Topic, we aim to deepen the knowledge of novel theories and enabling techniques for hybrid simulation and to broaden the spectrum of hybrid simulation applications and studies. This Research Topic will cover, but is not limited to, the following aspects:
• Innovative hybrid simulation theories, such as new frameworks, configurations, and treatment of nonlinearities and uncertainties in hybrid simulation
• Novel enabling techniques and technologies, e.g., new types of actuators and sensors, actuator control and compensation, numerical integration schemes, and high-performance computing techniques
• Performance evaluation of hybrid simulations, e.g., stability analysis, performance (delay/error) assessment criteria, uncertainty quantification, and validation studies
• Recent implementations and applications in hybrid simulation, especially in a multiple hazards context
• Educational material to convey fundamental principles of hybrid simulation
• And others

Keywords: Hybrid Simulation, Real-Time Hybrid Simulation, Compensation Algorithms, Stability Analysis, Uncertainty

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