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Distributed hybrid simulation is an approach to large-scale testing in which the system under test is split into several sub-structures which are tested or simulated in different locations. Data are passed between the sub-structures at each timestep so as to ensure that the distributed experiment realistically simulates the full system under test. This approach optimises the use of resources at different locations to achieve a more representative experiment. While different software to conduct distributed simulations exists, there are no standards and specifications to organise and plan the experiments, and as a result the different systems lack inter-operability. To address these issues, we have developed a high-level specification called Celestina, which provides a framework for conducting a distributed experiment. Celestina specifies the services to be implemented, under three main headings of networking, definition and execution, and supports the data exchange during a simulation. It does not force any particular implementation or method of data exchange. This paper summarises the Celestina specification and describes one implementation. Lastly, a validation experiment is presented, involving distributed numerical simulations of an earlier local hybrid experiment, in which Celestina controls the experiment planning and data exchange effectively and with minimal computational overhead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calibration, on the basis of data from centrifuge and shake table experiments, continues to promote the development of more accurate computational models. Capabilities such as coupled solid-fluid formulations and nonlinear incremental-plasticity approaches allow for more realistic representations of the involved static and dynamic/seismic responses. In addition, contemporary high-performance parallel computing environments are permitting new insights, gained from analyses of entire ground-foundation-structural systems. On this basis, the horizon is expanding for large-scale numerical simulations to further contribute toward the evolution of more accurate analysis and design strategies. The studies presented in this paper address this issue through recently conducted three-dimensional (3D) representative research efforts that simulate the seismic response of (1) a shallow-foundation liquefaction countermeasure, (2) a pile-supported wharf, and (3) a full bridge-ground system. A discussion of enabling tools for routine usage of such 3D simulation environments is also presented, as an important element in support of wider adoption and practical applications. In this regard, graphical user interfaces and visualization approaches can play a critical role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an observer designed under the assumption that differences between predicted and measured outputs arise from discrepancies between the real structural system and the nominal model used to represent it. The observer gain is independent of the assumed model error parametrization and proves to be the transpose of the state to output matrix of a state space formulation. The estimated state with the proposed observer is shown to be identical to that obtained by exciting the nominal model with the known input while adjusting the measured portion of the state to match the measurements at the start of every step. Numerical experiments suggest that the proposed observer can provide state estimates that are substantially more accurate than results predicted by projecting the measurements in a truncated modal space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]