Strategies for Operation of Single and Multiple Shake Tables

Research using multiple shake tables present new and unique challenges in controls. Typical single shake table tests with large specimens must cope with significant specimen force feedback that can increase tracking error due to specimen gain, damping, and non-linearity. Multiple shaking tables with distributed specimens can produce cross-coupling forces due to inertial and response effects and forces due to static differential displacements. Although many various control architectures exist, basic simplified techniques can yield excellent results without risk to control stability. Off-line simulation techniques can also prove invaluable for studying system response before the real system is operated.