Dynamic testing system diagnostics

A method of controlling a dynamic testing system, which comprises:

• a test station including:
• a hydraulic actuator configured to drive an actuation of a test subject using a hydraulic fluid flow;
• and
• a control valve comprising:
• a housing;
• a valve body contained within the housing having a position that controls a flow rate and direction of the hydraulic fluid flow;
• a valve body driver configured to adjust the position of the valve body based on a reference signal;
• and
• a valve position sensor configured to output a position signal that is indicative of the position of the valve body;
• and
• at least one controller,
• the method, which is performed by the at least one controller, comprises:
• obtaining a current position of the valve body using the position signal;
• obtaining a diagnostic reference;
• detecting a diagnostic condition based on a difference between the current position and the diagnostic reference;
• and
• generating a diagnostic signal indicating the detected diagnostic condition.

A dynamic testing system comprising:

• a test station including:
• a plurality of hydraulic actuators, each configured to receive a hydraulic fluid flow and drive an actuation of a test subject using the hydraulic fluid flow during a test;
• and
• a plurality of control valves, each control valve corresponding to one of the hydraulic actuators and comprising:
• a housing;
• a valve body contained within the housing having a position that controls a flow rate and direction of the corresponding hydraulic fluid flow;
• a valve body driver configured to adjust the position of the valve body based on a reference signal;
• and
• a valve position sensor configured to output a position signal that is indicative of the position of the valve body;
• and
• at least one controller configured to:
• obtain a current position of the valve body of each of the control vales at a time during a performance of a test program using the corresponding position signals;
• estimate a total flow rate of the hydraulic fluid flows at the time based on the obtained current positions of the control valves;
• obtain an expected total flow rate corresponding to the time based on at least one prior performance of the test program;
• detect a diagnostic condition based on a difference between the estimated total flow rate and the expected total flow rate;
• and
• generate a diagnostic signal indicating the detected diagnostic condition.