Analytical modelling of a large‐scale dynamic testing facility

SUMMARY An analytical model, which aims at reproducing the response of a large‐scale dynamic testing facility, that is a system composed of the specimen/shaking table/reaction‐mass/airbags/dampers/soil is developed. The Lagrangian of the system is derived, under the assumption of large displacements and rotations. A set of four nonlinear differential equations is obtained and solved with numerical methods. Preliminary verifications of the derived model are carried out by reproducing both well‐known results in the literature as well as those of a lumped model employed in the design of an existing dynamic testing facility. The case‐study for validating the nonlinear equations of motion is the shaking table of the EUCENTRE Laboratory. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.