Probabilistic approach for active control of structures: experimental verification

In our previous study (Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics 2003; 32 :2301), we have developed a probabilistic algorithm for active control of structures. In the probabilistic control algorithm, the control force is determined by the probability that the structural energy exceeds a specified target critical energy, and the direction of a control force is determined by the Lyapunov controller design method. In this paper, an experimental verification of the proposed probabilistic control algorithm is presented. A three‐story test structure equipped with an active mass driver (AMD) has been used. The effectiveness of the control algorithm has been examined by exciting the test structure using a sinusoidal signal, a scaled El Centro earthquake and a broadband Gaussian white noise; and, especially, experiments on control have been performed under different conditions to that of system identification in order to prove the stability and robustness of the proposed control algorithm. The experimental results indicate that the probabilistic control algorithm can achieve a significant response reduction under various types of ground excitations even when the modeling error exists. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effectiveness of structural control based on control energy perspectives

A computational algorithm for maximizing the control efficiency in actively controlling the elastic structural responses during earthquake is proposed. Study of optimal linear control using a single degree of freedom shows that applying active control is very effective in reducing the structural displacement and velocity responses for long‐period structures, but at the same time it has an adverse effect in increasing the absolute acceleration response. The extent of this adverse effect reduces the effectiveness of the control system, and therefore it poses a limit on the maximum control force in order to provide maximum control efficiency. In view of this shortcoming, maximum control energy dissipation is used to define the most effective optimal linear control law. Less displacement and velocity response are expected as larger control force is applied, but there is always a limit that maximum control energy can be dissipated. This study shows that this limit depends on the structural characteristics as well as the input ground motion, and a general trend is that the maximum control energy decreases as damping increases. Finally, application of the proposed algorithm on a six‐storey hospital building is presented to show the effectiveness of using optimal linear control on a multi‐degree‐of‐freedom system from the control energy perspectives. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种基于能量的振动主动控制新方法

为了防止控制过程中作动器出现饱和现象,本文提出了一种基于能量的新的振动主动控制策略。该方法是通过比较容许能量与实际能量来确定结构控制力的大小,而其方向是通过对能量求导确定。由于不需要求解线性矩阵不等式,所以计算简单,操作方便。并且当采用同样容量限的多个作动器时,控制输出力一致,从而避免设计多个控制系统,简化了控制器设计。此外,由于采用阶跃控制,控制系统便于实现。最后,以六层建筑物为例来说明本文方法的可行性。     

Performance‐based design with semi‐active structural control technique

The recent spate of large earthquakes has triggered diverse performance requirements for structures. This has led to increasing worldwide interest in performance‐based design methods. To establish such methods, however, it is necessary to evaluate structure conditions after defining the loads, and this is difficult to accomplish. On the other hand, there has been steady progress on research and development of structural control techniques for improving structural performance. These technological innovations need to be rationally incorporated into structural design. In particular, semi‐active structural control techniques are effective in improving structural performance during large earthquakes. By effectively incorporating them into the design, it is possible to meet the various structural performance requirements. This paper first outlines the various structural control methods and focuses on the semi‐active structural control technique as the main topic. It then describes an example to verify the effectiveness of the semi‐active structural control technique in high‐rise buildings. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design approaches for active, semi-active and passive control systems based on analysis of characteristics of active control force

In this paper,the characteristics of forces in active control systems connected to adjacent levels of a building are analyzed.The following characteristics are observed:(1) active control can provide signifi cantly superior supplemental damping to a building,but causes a small frequency shift;(2) the linear quadratic regulator(LQR)-based control force is composed of an elastic restoring force component and a damping force component,where the damping force is almost identical to the total control force,howev...     

结构模型的AMD主动控制试验

本文介绍了作者研究设计的ＡＭＤ装置。采用五层钢框架１：４模型ＡＭＤ系统安装在模型的顶层,采用多种地震动加速度记录在哈尔滨建筑大学力学与结构实验中心的地震模拟振动台上进行了结构的ＡＭＤ主动控制试验。试验结果表明：ＡＭＤ主动控制系统对结构地震反应的控制是非常有效的。     

结构振动的无能源主动控制

本文提出了一种无能源主动控制方案,这种控制方案的优点是不须配备高压油源,可降低控制成本,并地保证控制的可靠性。     

基于鲁棒线性二次算法的结构振动主动控制

线性二次控制算法在工程中得到了广泛的应用。本文提出了通过振型分解，赋予各阶振型不同权重，优化选择线性二次算法加权矩阵的方法，并采用回路传输恢复技术，设计了运用于土木工程结构主动减振的控制系统。仿真结果表明，本文方法能够有效地抑制高频噪声对输出控制力的影响。     

结构主动控制系统时间滞后测量与补偿方法

本文研究了结构主动控制系统时间滞后产生的原因,利用作者建立的结构主动控制系统进行了系统时间滞后测量方法的研究,测量得到了该系统时间滞后的具体数值,在此基础上,研究了时间滞后对控制系统的影响,提出了结构主动控制系统时间滞后的三种补偿,即移相法,泰勒级数展开法和预估状态向量法,通过主动控制试验证了时间滞后补偿方法的有效性。     

具有地震抑制功能的结构主动控制算法与仿真分析

提出了一种具有地震抑制功能的结构抗震主动控制算法。其特点是设计一组状态反馈控制律，使得闭环结构系统在具有希望极点的同时，还能够减小结构地震输人的影响。首先，在特征结构配置参数化方法的基础上，将该控制问题转化为一个含有约束条件的优化问题；其次，给出了求解该问题的算法及实施步骤，该方法直接基于结构系统原始矩阵，不涉及系统的增广或变换，便于工程应用；最后，对地震作用下三层剪切型Benchmark结构模型进行了仿真分析，结果表明本文所提具有地震干扰抑制功能算法的有效性。     

Optimal displacement feedback control law for active tuned mass damper

Optimal displacement feedback control law is derived for a vibration control of a single‐degree‐of‐freedom structure with an active tuned mass damper (ATMD). Analytical expressions of the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) feedback gains for the ATMD are derived by solving the Ricatti equation straightforwardly. Based on these solutions, it is found that if the stiffness of the tuned mass damper (TMD) is calibrated to satisfy a certain condition, the control law is simplified to be composed of the feedback gains only for the displacement of the structure and the velocity of the auxiliary mass stroke, which is referred to as ‘optimal displacement feedback control’. The mean‐square responses of the structure as well as the auxiliary mass against Gaussian white noise excitations are evaluated by solving the Lyapunov equation analytically based on the stochastic optimal control theory. Using these analytical solutions, the optimal damping parameter for the auxiliary mass is also derived. Finally, the optimal displacement feedback control law is presented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Market‐based control of linear structural systems

To limit the response of structures during external disturbances such as strong winds or large seismic events, structural control systems can be used. In the structural engineering field, attention has been shifted from active control to semi‐active control systems. Unlike active control system devices, semi‐active devices are compact, have efficient power consumption characteristics and are less expensive. As a result, an environment of a large number of actuators and sensors will result, rendering a complex large‐scale dynamic system. Such a system is best controlled by a decentralized approach such as market‐based control (MBC). In MBC, the system is modelled as a market place of buyers and sellers that leads to an efficient allocation of control power. The resulting MBC solution is shown to be locally Pareto optimal. This novel control approach is applied to three linear structural systems ranging from a one‐storey structure to a 20‐storey structure, all controlled by semi‐active hydraulic dampers. It is shown that MBC is competitive in the reduction of structural responses during large seismic loadings as compared to the centralized control approach of the linear quadratic regulation controller. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic structural control using an electric servomotor active mass driver system

This study investigates an electric‐type active mass driver (AMD) system for structural vibration control. Composed primarily of an electric servomotor and a ball screw, the electrical AMD system is free from noise problems, oil leakage, and labor‐intensive maintenance that commonly are associated with hydraulic AMD systems. The desired stroke amplification of the mass and the power demand of the servomotor can be adjusted via the ball screw pitch, which in turn affects the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. Meanwhile, an instantaneous optimal direct output feedback control algorithm is adopted. Numerical simulation is performed using a five‐story steel frame as the object structure under the conditions of the 1940 El Centro earthquake. The AMD system proves to be effective and efficient within a certain range of the ball screw pitch. The reductions of the peak responses can reach as high as 70% if properly designed. Requiring only the velocity measurement of the top floor for on‐line feedback control, the proposed control algorithm is recommended for practical implementation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic structural control using a novel high‐performance active mass driver system

To resolve difficulties encountered by current technology in structural control against earthquakes, this study proposes a novel high‐performance active mass driver (HP‐AMD) system. Based on an active mass driver system, the device is integrated with a mechanical pulley system for stroke amplification to enhance simultaneously efficiency and save power. Meanwhile, an instantaneous optimal direct output feedback control algorithm is derived alongside the hardware development. Numerical simulation is performed using a five‐storey steel frame as the object structure under the 1940 El Centro earthquake. To gain further insight into the HP‐AMD system, the effects of stroke amplification as well as damper weight on system performance are explored. Analysis results demonstrate that the proposed HP‐AMD system is a promising means to improving current active structural control techniques. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于能量方程的建筑结构半主动控制

基于地震作用下结构的能量响应方程,本文提出根据结构吸收能量、相对动能和变形能的变化(对时间的一次导数)进行结构的“开-关”半主动减震的控制律;在物理坐标系中对这3种控制律的动力特征和控制效果,以及作动器参数的选取进行了分析。本文针对建筑结构进行了数值仿真。计算结果表明,本文提出的控制律可以有效地减小了结构的位移响应,对随机不确定的地震波均具有良好的减震效果,适应性强,而且控制器参数合理。其中根据结构变形能推导的控制律的半主动控制效果优于其它2种控制律。     

基于状态观测器的结构控制系统传感器的最优位置

研究了基于状态观测器的结构控制系统传感器的最优位置问题,定义了问题的数学模型,给出了求解问题的一种方法,并数值分析了在地震作用下一幢房屋结构控制传感器的最优位置,验证了方法的有效性。     

Unsupervised fuzzy neural network structural active pulse controller

Applying active control systems to civil engineering structures subjected to dynamic loading has received increasing interest. This study proposes an active pulse control model, termed unsupervised fuzzy neural network structural active pulse controller (UFN‐SAP controller), for controlling civil engineering structures under dynamic loading. The proposed controller combines an unsupervised neural network classification (UNC) model, an unsupervised fuzzy neural network (UFN) reasoning model, and an active pulse control strategy. The UFN‐SAP controller minimizes structural cumulative responses during earthquakes by applying active pulse control forces determined via the UFN model based on the clusters, classified through the UNC model, with their corresponding control forces. Herein, we assume that the effect of the pulses on structure is delayed until just before the next sampling time so that the control force can be calculated in time, and applied. The UFN‐SAP controller also averts the difficulty of obtaining system parameters for a real structure for the algorithm to allow active structural control. Illustrative examples reveal significant reductions in cumulative structural responses, proving the feasibility of applying the adaptive unsupervised neural network with the fuzzy classification approach to control civil engineering structures under dynamic loading. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predictive active control of MDOF structures

This paper presents a theoretical study of a predictive active control system used to improve the response of multi‐degree‐of‐freedom (MDOF) structures to earthquakes. As an example a building frame equipped with electrorheological (ER) dampers is considered. The aim of the design is to find a combination of forces that are produced by the ER dampers in order to obtain an optimal structural response. The mechanical response of ER fluid dampers is regulated by an electric field. Linear auto‐regressive model with exogenous input (ARX) is used to predict the displacements and the velocities of the frame in order to overcome the time‐delay problem in the control system. The control forces in the ER devices are calculated at every time step by the optimal control theory (OCT) according to the values of the displacements and of the velocities that are predicted at the next time step at each storey of the structure. A numerical analysis of a seven‐storey ER damped structure is presented as an example. It shows a significant improvement of the structural response when the predictive active control system is applied compared to that of an uncontrolled structure or that of a structure with controlled damping forces with time delay. The structure's displacements and velocities that were used to obtain the optimal control forces were predicted according to an ‘occurring’ earthquake by the ARX model (predictive control). The response was similar to that of the structure with control forces that were calculated from a ‘known’ complete history of the earthquake's displacement and velocity values, and were applied without delay (instantaneous control). Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

压电材料智能控制器对框架结构地震反应的主动控制

本文对压电材料智能控制器装置进行了介绍,并提出了压电材料智能控制器对框架结构地震反应基于现代最优控制理论的主动控制方法。计算实例分析结果表明：应用本方法,该智能控制装置能有效地减小结构的地震反应。     

Variable gain feedback control technique of active mass damper and its application to hybrid structural control

A systematic design procedure and an algorithm are devised for variable gain feedback (VGF) control of buildings with active mass damper (AMD) systems. The limit of the stroke length of the auxiliary mass, which is considered to be one of the most important physical constraints for application of AMD systems to actual structures, is studied. A set of variable feedback gains is designed as a function of a single variable that indicates a trade-off between the reduction of the building response and the amplitude of the auxiliary mass stroke, and this variable is on-line controlled to keep the amplitude of the auxiliary mass stroke constant, and within its limits. A design method of static output feedback controller for modal control of buildings with non-classical damping is also presented. Next, an efficient control method for hybrid structural control is developed, with combined use of the VGF control and the static output feedback control. It is shown through numerical examples that the proposed control method effectively adapts the control performance according to the variation in the intensity level of the external excitations in such a manner that the amplitude of the auxiliary mass stroke is kept within its limits and the control power is restrained as well. The application range of the AMD systems is thereby improved significantly. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.