Recent Advances on Pseudodynamic Hybrid Simulation of Masonry Structures

Hybrid Simulation has been introduced to simulate the seismic response of civil structures. The hybrid model of the emulated system combines numerical and physical subdomains and its dynamic response to a realistic excitation is simulated using a numerical time-stepping response history analysis. In the current practice, lumped parameters structural topologies such as shear type frames or inverted pendulum characterize the physical subdomain and the design of the testing setup is straightforward. Although hybrid simulation has been extensively exploited for testing concrete and steel structures, in the authors' knowledge, there is still a paucity of scientific publications devoted to masonry applications. This is in contrast to the inherent uncertainty carried by masonry failure mechanisms, which hinders any attempt of implementing predictive numerical models. From this perspective, this paper summarizes our recent research achievements aimed at extending hybrid simulation to distributed parameter specimens, such as masonry walls, using the minimum number of actuators. The great potential of reduction bases in driving the substructuring process has been shown in a previous work and here is enhanced to floating physical subdomains.