A Strategy for Improving Performance in Real Time Hybrid Testing

Hybrid testing is an emergent technology encompassing a variety of contemporary methods such as hardware-in-the-loop, pseudo-dynamic, and real-time dynamic testing. A system to be tested is split into two or more subsystems, with some of the components represented by numerical models and the remainder being comprised of real, physical hardware. Forces and displacements are transmitted between subsystems via actuators and sensors. This paper is concerned with the challenges that emerge when trying to accommodate real-time simulations with highly nonlinear force characteristics in the physical substructure. A brief review of hybrid testing considerations is provided, including actuation hardware, controllers, and numerical time-integration schemes. An new approach is then proposed which unites novel methods in the numerical model, the integration scheme and the actuator control to achieve high performance levels independent of the physical component being tested, specifically for the case of highly nonlinear components and relatively coarse timesteps in the numerical substructure. Simulation results are provided to substantiate the projected benefits.