A study of the dynamic performance of a shaking table

The dynamic performance of a shaking table used for studying the response of structures to seismic ground motion is investigated. The shaking table studied in this thesis is in the Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory at the University of British Columbia. The theory of closed-loop feedback control systems is used as a basis for the study. A mathematical model of the shake table control system is developed using the techniques of linear control system analysis. This model is used to predict the shake table behavior analytically. The predicted performance is compared to the actual performance obtained experimentally. The model is generalized subsequently to include some non-linear effects present in the actual control system. The results of analytical studies performed with the non-linear model are compared to the real system behavior. The linear and non-linear models developed are shown to be useful for investigation of the performance of the shaking table. The results obtained compare well with the actual system performance.Applied Science, Faculty ofCivil Engineering, Department ofGraduat