Real-time　substructuring　techniques　are　currently　an　advanced　experimental　method　for　testing　large　size　specimens　in　the　laboratory.　In　dynamic　substructuring,　the　whole　tested　system　is　split　into　two　linked　parts,　the　part　of　particular　interest　or　nonlinearity,　which　is　tested　physically,　and　the　remanding　part　which　is　tested　numerically.　To　achieve　near-perfect　synchronization　of　the　interface　response　between　the　physical　specimen　and　the　numerical　model,　a　good　controller　is　needed　to　compensate　for　transfer　system　dynamics,　nonlinearities,　uncertainties　and　time-varying　parameters　within　the　physical　substructures.　This　paper　presents　the　substructuring　approach　and　control　performance　of　the　linear　and　the　adaptive　controllers　for　testing　the　dynamic　characteristics　of　soil-structure-interaction　system　(SSI).　This　is　difficult　to　emulate　as　an　entire　system　in　the　laboratory　because　of　the　size　and　power　supply　limitations　of　the　experimental　facilities.　A　modified　linear　substructuring　controller　(MLSC)　is　proposed　to　replace　the　linear　substructuring　controller　(LSC).　The　MLSC　doesn＇t　require　the　accurate　mathematical　model　of　the　physical　structure　that　is　required　by　the　LSC.　The　effects　of　parameter　identification　errors　of　physical　structure　and　the　shaking　table　on　the　control　performance　of　the　MLSC　are　analysed.　An　adaptive　controller　was　designed　to　compensate　for　the　errors　from　the　simplification　of　the　physical　model　in　the　MLSC,　and　from　parameter　identification　errors.　Comparative　simulation　and　experimental　tests　were　then　performed　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　the　MLSC　and　the　adaptive　controller.