NHERI Lehigh Hybrid Simulation 101 and Researchers Workshop

June 24-26, 2025
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA

The NHERI Lehigh Experimental Facility will host a two-part, in-person workshop series focused on hybrid simulation and its critical role in advancing natural hazard mitigation.

Hybrid Simulation 101 – June 24

This introductory workshop is ideal for students, early-career researchers, and anyone new to hybrid simulation. Attendees will:

• Gain foundational knowledge about hybrid simulation and its applications
• Participate in hands-on demonstrations
• Interact with NHERI Lehigh staff and learn about the facility’s capabilities

Researcher Workshop – June 25–26

Designed for researchers, practitioners, and industry professionals, this two-day workshop will explore cutting-edge hybrid simulation research and highlight collaboration opportunities. Participants will:

• Learn about the tools and techniques available at NHERI Lehigh
• Discover how to integrate real-time hybrid simulation into their research
• Observe advanced demonstrations, including:
  • Component-scale and large-scale multi-directional testing
  • Multi-physics real-time hybrid simulations of soil–foundation–structure systems
  • Simulations of civil infrastructure under wind, wave, and earthquake loading

We invite you to engage with experts, exchange ideas, and explore how hybrid simulation can support innovative, resilience-focused research. The goals of this workshop are to:

• Overview of the latest developments in hybrid simulation and multi-physics cyber-physical testing
• Provide hands-on learning opportunities for participants to utilize hybrid simulation
• Disseminate information on the use of the NHERI Lehigh Experimental Facility (EF) to conduct state-of-the-art research and recent advances in simulation to mitigate the effects of natural hazards on infrastructure, including the use of large-scale testing, hybrid simulation, AI-based models for accounting for fluid-structure and soil-structure interaction effects.
• Highlight testimony of researchers who have used the facility to provide examples of how users can utilize the NHERI Lehigh EF.
• Demonstrate experiments and simulations which utilize component scale, hybrid simulation, and large-scale test beds to illustrate how users can utilize facility equipment.
• Identify the latest challenges for the natural hazards research community and discuss how the facility can accommodate user needs to achieve their goals.
• Facilitate sharing of ideas and research collaboration among workshop participants.
• Provide guidance for preparing competitive NHERI research proposals that involve the NHERI Lehigh EF.

For planning purposes, the workshop is scheduled to begin at 8:00 am EST on Tuesday, June 24 and will conclude at 1:00 pm EST on Thursday, June 26. Additional optional office hours will be available on Thursday afternoon.

Participant support funds are available for travel and lodging. Applications for support funds are due by May 23, 2025. Faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and professionals from the private sector are encouraged to apply. Requested travel support will be confirmed for registrants in early June. Participant support funds will be reimbursed following the workshop upon the submittal of an expense summary and valid receipts to NHERI Lehigh by registrant.

Questions can be addressed to NHERI Lehigh Operations Manager Joe Saunders at jms815@lehigh.edu or 610-758-3223.