Reproducing response spectra in shaking table tests of nonstructural components

Shaking table tests (STTs) provide an effective method to realistically assess seismic performance of nonstructural components (e.g., ceilings, water pipe supports and hangers, and glass screen walls), whose damage losses have been found to exceed those of structural components in recent earthquakes. During a shaking table test, nonstructural components respond upon the floor motion of a supporting frame where nonstructural components are attached to. Accurately reproducing floor response spectra of the supporting frame is therefore critical to achieve consistent and high-quality test results. This paper proposes a multi-directional decoupling iteration (MDI) control method to achieve this demand. The principle of the proposed MDI method is explained first. The effectiveness of the proposed controller to overcome the dynamic coupling between the supporting frame and the shaking table and to accurately reproduce floor response spectra along multi-directions is validated through a series of STTs of water pipe supports and hangers.