First Trial of a Mechanical System for Experimental Shake Table Dynamic Tests on Real Scale Structures

A dynamic testing system consisting of a totally independent mechanical laboratory has been designed and constructed at the EUCENTRE Foundation. The results of a first experimental trial with the aim of checking the reliability of the system apparatus when stressed by imposing a series of dynamic loading histories on a real-scale two-storey tridimensional frame are presented. Particular care was devoted to equipment and its functioning, reliability of the digital controller, actuator response, and matching between reference input and feedback signal. Furthermore, a brief description regarding the behavior of the tridimensional frame and the experimental results is added.