Environment Independent Implementation of a Software Framework for Fast Local and Geographically Distributed Hybrid Simulations

Hybrid simulation provides a versatile, realistic and cost-effective method for simulating dynamic response experimentally. Although hybrid simulation is undergoing widespread development worldwide, each site generally follows a different approach to implementation, which impedes researchers from effectively collaborating. It is especially difficult to perform important geographically distributed experiments that can take advantage of unique experimental, computational and intellectual resources worldwide. This paper describes the continuing evolution and several real-time applications of the Open-source Framework for Experimental Setup and Control (OpenFresco), an object oriented, environment independent software framework which is based on a systems analysis of the operations needed to perform local as well as geographically distributed hybrid simulations. OpenFresco’s software architecture is explained in detail. Examples of rapid (including soft realtime) local and geographically distributed hybrid simulations, using OpenFresco in combination with different finite element analysis software packages, are presented along with the current development status and future possible improvements.