Development of a digitally-controlled three-axis earthquake shake table

An eight-actuator shake table was developed for evaluating specimen response under conditions that closely simulate actual earthquakes. The system contains a number of unique hardware and software features that considerably reduce the cost of earthquake simulation testing. These include single-ended actuator assemblies, contamination-insensitive servo-hydraulics and a robust DSP-based control and data acquisition system. Tests to simulate a number of three-axis earthquake time histories appear to suggest satisfactory table response.