Stability of real-time hybrid simulation involving time-varying delay and direct integration algorithms

Stability presents a critical issue for real-time hybrid simulation. Actuator delay might destabilize the real-time test without proper compensation. Previous research often assumed real-time hybrid simulation as a continuous-time system; however, it is more appropriately treated as a discrete-time system because of application of digital devices and integration algorithms. By using the Lyapunov–Krasovskii theory, this study explores the convoluted effect of integration algorithms and actuator delay on the stability of real-time hybrid simulation. Both theoretical and numerical analysis results demonstrate that (1) the direct integration algorithm is preferably used for real-time hybrid simulation because of its computational efficiency; (2) the stability analysis of real-time hybrid simulation highly depends on actuator delay models, and the actuator model that accounts for time-varying characteristic will lead to more conservative stability; and (3) the integration step is constrained by the algorithm and structural frequencies. Moreover, when the step is small, the stability of the discrete-time system will approach that of the corresponding continuous-time system. The study establishes a bridge between continuous- and discrete-time systems for stability analysis of real-time hybrid simulation.