The term dynamic in engineering refers to something that varies over time, while a dynamic load is a load that changes with time. The results of dynamic loading (displacements, internal forces, and stresses) are referred to as the dynamic response. This thesis focuses on determining displacements as part of the dynamic response. The dynamic response of a structure can be determined using the equation of motion, which shows that the response depends on both the dynamic load and the structural characteristics (mass, stiffness, and damping). These characteristics are briefly explained, along with methods for their determination. A numerical solution for the equation of motion using the Newmark method with constant acceleration per time step is also presented. The second part of the thesis introduces the Quanser Shake Table II (STII) and the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system. For the purpose of the thesis, a simple structural model was developed, mounted on the shake table, and subjected to ground acceleration data recorded during the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The earthquake was simulated using the STII shake table, and the dynamic response of the structural model was measured using the DIC system. The structural model’s characteristics were also determined experimentally. In the final part, a numerical simulation of the dynamic response was performed in SAP2000, using the experimentally obtained model characteristics. A comparison is made between the experimental and numerical results, considering both the initial and iteratively refined model parameters.
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