A new shaker table test facility for multiple support excitation of large test specimens

This paper deals with a new kind of test facility for seismic testing of extensive mechanical structures like piping systems in the laboratory. Several movable servohydraulic excitation units instead of a large shaking table enable a multiple independent support excitation for a variety of different test specimen geometries and support configurations. Because of the light masses of the excitation units high excitation levels can be achieved with relative small input forces and peripherical hydraulic equipment. The test systems can be excited successively in three orthogonal directions without changing the connections to the excitation units. (orig.)