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A dynamic testing system consisting of a totally independent mechanical laboratory has been designed and constructed at the EUCENTRE Foundation. The results of a first experimental trial with the aim of checking the reliability of the system apparatus when stressed by imposing a series of dynamic loading histories on a real-scale two-storey tridimensional frame are presented. Particular care was devoted to equipment and its functioning, reliability of the digital controller, actuator response, and matching between reference input and feedback signal. Furthermore, a brief description regarding the behavior of the tridimensional frame and the experimental results is added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various papers have presented different methods for computations of mechanics and kinematics of discrete structural systems. However, little has been done in comparing and benchmarking the seismic response from two different discrete-system-models with experiments. This paper presents a detailed seismic performance comparison between two models—level set discrete element method (LS-DEM) and Logiciel de Mécanique Gérant le Contact (LMGC90), calibrated with shake table experiments conducted on four concrete-block configurations. Theories of both models are thoroughly explained and compared. The simulation results are benchmarked against experimental data. Finally, the principal results and significance of this benchmarking effort is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an experimental program involving shake table testing of two full-scale reinforced concrete frame buildings. These tests were conducted to investigate the effectiveness and reliability of a newly proposed servo-hydraulic Active Mass Damper (AMD) that can be designed to enhance the target seismic performance of a building at multiple earthquake intensity levels. The two nominally identical case-study buildings were intentionally designed to exhibit a "soft story" mechanism at the first level when subject to ground shaking of sufficient intensity, but one was equipped with the newly proposed AMD, installed on the roof. The two specimens were then subject to the same loading protocol consisting of a ground shaking sequence of varying intensity, with the seismic input consisting of a selected natural ground motion.The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed AMD is extremely effective at enhancing building seismic performance. Specifically, the AMD provided peak displacement reductions in the order of 70% and was shown capable of absorbing more than 60% of the total input energy. As a consequence, the un-retrofitted structure suffered nontrivial structural and non-structural damage, while the AMD-retrofitted building remained virtually undamaged at all shaking intensities considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]