Real-time　dynamic　substructuring　(RTDS)　is　a　state-of-the-art　experimental　technique　for　evaluating　the　dynamic　performance　of　a　structural　system　subjected　to　time-varying　loads　in　civil　engineering.　The　accuracy　and　stability　of　RTDS　is　affected　by　the　natural　dynamics　of　the　constituent　transfer　system.　Of　various　control　strategies,　and　due　to　the　merits　of　simple　implementation　and　low　computational　cost,　delay-compensation　methods　have　become　most　pervasive.　In　this　paper,　the　performance　of　delay　compensation　based　methods　for　RTDS　is　assessed　in　terms　of　accuracy　and　stability.　Three　commonly-used　delay　compensation　schemes　are　considered,　two　of　which　are　time　variant　and　one　time　invariant.　Stability　is　assessed　analytically,　numerically,　and　experimentally.　Accuracy　is　assessed　numerically　and　experimentally.　To　provide　a　suitable　test　for　the　delay　compensation　control　schemes,　a　shaking　table　is　adopted　as　the　RTDS　transfer　system.　It　is　demonstrated　numerically,　analytically,　and　experimentally　that　when　applied　to　transfer　systems　such　as　these,　delay　compensation　can　work　to　the　detriment　of　test　accuracy　and　test　stability.　Adequate　performance　of　delay　compensated,　shaking-table　based　RTDS　is　confined　to　a　narrow　low　frequency　bandwidth,　which　severely　restricts　the　range　of　potential　application.