The development of a six-axis load head based on the Stewart platform concept is described in this paper. The intended application of the device is in quantifying terminal forces and moments in flexible conductors interconnecting equipment in electrical substations. Such quantification is important is assessing seismic demand both at the terminal connections and in the equipment. In particular, nonlinear effects have been observed in the dynamics of such interconnected systems, and the load head is designed to capture such effects. For this purpose, it has a large range, thus being able to record force spikes, as well as high sensitivity needed to measure low-level fluctuations that influence equipment base moments. Performance of the load head is assessed through static and dynamic tests, and implications of design modifications on performance are explored. An example application of the load head to a dynamic test is presented, where a conductor is fixed at one end and excited at the other. Results demonstrate the ability of the load head to capture nonlinear dynamic effects. Specifically, force and moment characteristics as nonlinear effects develop in the form of period-doubling are reported. A physical understanding of these phenomena is invaluable in interpreting characteristics observed in flexibly interconnected equipment.

中文翻译：

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应用于电导体非线性动力学的六轴负载头

本文描述了基于 Stewart 平台概念的六轴负载头的开发。该设备的预期应用是量化变电站中柔性导体互连设备的终端力和力矩。这种量化对于评估终端连接和设备中的地震需求很重要。特别是，在这种相互连接系统的动力学中已经观察到非线性效应，并且负载头旨在捕捉这种效应。为此，它具有大范围，因此能够记录力峰值，以及测量影响设备基本力矩的低水平波动所需的高灵敏度。负载头的性能通过静态和动态测试进行评估，并探讨了设计修改对性能的影响。展示了负载头在动态测试中的一个示例应用，其中一根导体固定在一端，另一端被激励。结果证明了负载头捕捉非线性动态效应的能力。具体而言，报告了作为非线性效应以倍周期形式发展的力和力矩特性。对这些现象的物理理解对于解释在灵活互连的设备中观察到的特性非常宝贵。报告了非线性效应以倍周期形式发展时的力和力矩特性。对这些现象的物理理解对于解释在灵活互连的设备中观察到的特性非常宝贵。报告了非线性效应以倍周期形式发展时的力和力矩特性。对这些现象的物理理解对于解释在灵活互连的设备中观察到的特性非常宝贵。