Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S03720/01
Title:	The Development of Multi-Axis Real-Time Substructure Testing
Principal Investigator:	Williams, Professor M
Other Investigators:	Blakeborough, Professor A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Engineering Science
Organisation:	University of Oxford
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 January 2003	Ends:	31 May 2006	Value (£):	214,408
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Structural Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Construction No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:	GR/S03737/01
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The project will extend and evaluate the real-time substructure (RTS) method for the dynamic testing of structures. In an RTS test, a physical test is performed on a critical part of the structure (the physical substructure) while the remainder is modelled numerically (the numerical substructure), with results passed between the two substructures at each timestep. This novel approach offers advantages over conventional pseudo-dynamic and shake table methods but, despite promising early results achieved by both sets of applicants, needs further development. A key requirement is the capability to perform tests in which the physical and numerical substructures are connected by more than one degree of freedom. Critical to the success of the RTS method are the provision of robust, adaptive control and fast analysis of the numerical substructure. Control developments will be based around the minimal control synthesis algorithm, developed and already extensively used by the Bristol applicants. Numerical methods will use a variety of approaches including a novel Ritz vector method proposed by the Oxford applicants. The methods will be extensively tested using two development rigs (one deliberately very simple, one more complex) in each of the two very different laboratories (large, fixed shaking table at Bristol, movable actuators on test frames at Oxford).
Key Findings
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Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.ox.ac.uk