Passive and active control of three‐dimensional buildings

The majority of the recent research effort on structural control considers two‐dimensional plane structures. However, not all buildings can be modelled as plane structures, thus limiting the capability of the proposed procedures only to regular and symmetrical structures. A new procedure is developed in this paper to analyse three‐dimensional buildings utilizing passive and active control devices. In the building model, the floors are assumed rigid in their own plane resulting in three degrees of freedom at each floor. Two types of active control devices utilizing an active tuned mass damper and an active bracing system are considered. The effect of passive mass dampers and active control force in the equations of motion is incorporated by using the Hamilton's principle. The passive parameters of the dampers as well as the controller gain is then optimized using a genetic based optimizer where the H₂, H_∞ and L₁ norms are taken as the objective functions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low cyclic fatigue and hysteretic behavior of U‐shaped steel dampers for seismically isolated buildings under dynamic cyclic loadings

Energy dissipation devices are necessary for base‐isolated buildings to control the deformation in the isolation system and to dissipate the earthquake‐induced energy. U‐shaped steel dampers (also known as U‐dampers) dissipate energy through plastic deformation of specially designed U‐shaped steel elements. This type of device can be installed at several locations in the isolation system. U‐dampers have been widely used in Japan for different types of isolated structures, such as hospitals, plants and residential buildings, since the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. Previous research has used static tests to estimate the performance of U‐dampers. However, the ultimate plastic deformation capacities and hysteretic behaviors of full‐scale U‐dampers under dynamic excitations still remain unclear. In addition, it is unclear whether the initial temperature has an effect on the hysteretic behavior and plastic deformation capacity of U‐dampers. In this paper, two series of dynamic loading tests of U‐dampers were conducted to evaluate the issues described earlier. The major findings of the study are (i) the loading speed has little effect on the plastic deformation capacity of U‐dampers; (ii) method to evaluate the ultimate plastic deformation capacities of U‐shaped steel dampers of different sizes is established using a Manson–Coffin relation‐based equation that is based on the peak‐to‐peak horizontal shear angle γ_t, which is defined as the lateral deformation amplitude (peak‐to‐peak amplitude) divided by the height of the dampers; (iii) the loading rate and the initial temperature have a minimal effect on the hysteretic behavior of the U‐dampers; and (iv) a bilinear model is proposed to simulate the force‐deformation relationships of the U‐dampers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of yielding metallic and friction dampers for optimal seismic performance

This paper deals with the optimal design of yielding metallic dampers and friction dampers together as they both have similar design characteristics and parameters. Ample tests and analytical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of these energy dissipation devices for seismic response control and protection of building structures. Since these devices are strongly non‐linear with several parameters controlling their behaviour, their current design procedures are usually cumbersome and not optimal. In this paper, a methodology is presented to determine the optimal design parameters for the devices installed at different locations in a building for a desired performance objective. For a yielding metallic damper, the design parameters of interest are the device yield level, device stiffness, and brace stiffness. For a friction device, the parameters are the slip load level and brace stiffness. Since the devices and the structures installed with these devices behave in a highly non‐linearly manner, and thus must be evaluated by a step‐by‐step time history approach, the genetic algorithm is used to obtain the globally optimal solution. This optimal search approach allows an unusual flexibility in the choice of performance objectives. For demonstration purposes, several sets of numerical examples of optimal damper designs with different performance objectives are presented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hybrid seismic protection of cable‐stayed bridges

This paper proposes a hybrid control strategy combining passive and semi‐active control systems for seismic protection of cable‐stayed bridges. The efficacy of this control strategy is verified by examining the ASCE first‐generation benchmark problem for a seismically excited cable‐stayed bridge, which employs a three‐dimensional linearized evaluation bridge model as a testbed structure. Herein, conventional lead–rubber bearings are introduced as base isolation devices, and semi‐active dampers (e.g., variable orifice damper, controllable fluid damper, etc.) are considered as supplemental damping devices. For the semi‐active dampers, a clipped‐optimal control algorithm, shown to perform well in previous studies involving controllable dampers, is considered. Because the semi‐active damper is a controllable energy‐dissipation device that cannot add mechanical energy to the structural system, the proposed hybrid control strategy is fail‐safe in that the bounded‐input, bounded‐output stability of the controlled structure is guaranteed. Numerical simulation results show that the performance of the proposed hybrid control strategy is quite effective in protecting seismically excited cable‐stayed bridges. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic performance improvement of Special Truss Moment Frames using damage and energy concepts

Nowadays, one of the most important methodologies to reduce the destructive effects of severe earthquakes on structures is the use of energy dissipation devices (EDDs). In this paper, a new configuration of special truss moment frame (STMF) systems including EDDs is theoretically proposed to improve their seismic performance. Such an improvement is achieved by provision of bending performance in these frames. For this purpose, the devices called buckling resistant braces (BRBs) are located at the side of beam‐column connections as the top and bottom members of truss‐girders. In this context, a five‐bay nine‐story STMF is designed using the damage and energy concepts recently proposed in the literature. To show the effectiveness of the proposed system with respect to the similar recently presented STMFs, this frame is then subjected to non‐linear static and non‐linear time‐history analyses under several ground motion records in order to survey on its seismic performance. Subsequently, such engineering demand parameters as lateral displacement, inter‐story drift ratio, overturning moment and shearing forces of stories, residual deformations and maximum time‐history displacement at roof level, as well as the process of plastic hinges formation are investigated. The results show the effectiveness of proposed configuration of EDDs used to improve the seismic safety of STMFs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response prediction,experimental characterization and P‐spectra design of frames with viscoelastic–plastic dampers

Viscoelastic–plastic (VEP) dampers are hybrid passive damping devices that combine the advantages of viscoelastic and hysteretic damping. This paper first formulates a semi‐analytical procedure for predicting the peak response of nonlinear SDOF systems equipped with VEP dampers, which forms the basis for the generation of Performance Spectra that can then be used for direct performance assessment and optimization of VEP damped structures. This procedure is first verified against extensive nonlinear time‐history analyses based on a Kelvin viscoelastic model of the dampers, and then against a more advanced evolutionary model that is calibrated to characterization tests of VEP damper specimens built from commercially available viscoelastic damping devices, and an adjustable friction device. The results show that the proposed procedure is sufficiently accurate for predicting the response of VEP systems without iterative dynamic analysis for preliminary design purposes. A design method based on the Performance Spectra framework is then proposed for systems equipped with passive VEP dampers and is applied to enhance the seismic response of a six‐storey steel moment frame. The numerical simulation results on the damped structure confirm the use of the Performance Spectra as a convenient and accurate platform for the optimization of VEP systems, particularly during the initial design stage. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Control of the earthquake and wind dynamic response of steel‐framed buildings by using additional braces and/or viscoelastic dampers

The insertion of steel braces equipped with viscoelastic dampers (VEDs) (‘dissipative braces’) is a very effective technique to improve the seismic or wind behaviour of framed buildings. The main purpose of this work is to compare the earthquake and wind dynamic response of steel‐framed buildings with VEDs and achieve optimal properties of dampers and supporting braces. To this end, a numerical investigation is carried out with reference to the steel K‐braced framed structure of a 15‐storey office building, which is designed according to the provisions of Eurocodes 1 and 3, and to four structures derived from the first one by the insertion of additional diagonal braces and/or VEDs. With regard to the VEDs, the following cases are examined: absence of dampers; insertion of dampers supported by the existing K‐braces in each of the structures with or without additional diagonal braces; insertion of dampers supported by additional diagonal braces. Dynamic analyses are carried out in the time domain using a step‐by‐step initial stress‐like iterative procedure. For this purpose, the frame members and the VEDs are idealized, respectively, by a bilinear model, which allows the simulation of the nonlinear behaviour under seismic loads, and a six‐element generalized model, which can be considered as an in‐parallel‐combination of two Maxwell models and one Kelvin model. Artificially generated accelerograms, whose response spectra match those adopted by Eurocode 8 for a medium subsoil class and for different levels of peak ground acceleration, are considered to simulate seismic loads. Along‐wind loads are considered assuming, at each storey, time histories of the wind velocity for a return period T_r=5 years, according to an equivalent spectrum technique. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of passive systems for control of inelastic structures

A design strategy for control of buildings experiencing inelastic deformations during seismic response is formulated. The strategy is using weakened, and/or softened, elements in a structural system while adding passive energy dissipation devices (e.g. viscous fluid devices, etc.) in order to control simultaneously accelerations and deformations response during seismic events. A design methodology is developed to determine the locations and the magnitude of weakening and/or softening of structural elements and the added damping while insuring structural stability. A two‐stage design procedure is suggested: (i) first using a nonlinear active control algorithm, to determine the new structural parameters while insuring stability, then (ii) determine the properties of equivalent structural parameters of passive system, which can be implemented by removing or weakening some structural elements, or connections, and by addition of energy dissipation systems. Passive dampers and weakened elements are designed using an optimization algorithm to obtain a response as close as possible to an actively controlled system. A case study of a five‐story building subjected to El Centro ground motion, as well as to an ensemble of simulated ground motions, is presented to illustrate the procedure. The results show that following the design strategy, a control of both peak inter‐story drifts and total accelerations can be obtained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of dampers for structures based on optimal control theory

The aim of this paper was to propose a design guideline for using visco‐elastic dampers for the control of building structures subjected to earthquake loading as well as suspension roof structures subjected to wind loading. The active control algorithm was used to calculate the control forces. Based on the single‐mode approach the control forces were transformed to the forces which visco‐elastic dampers can provide. Application of the method to the design of the building structure with passive damping devices in the bracing system and to the suspension roof with dampers was studied. Through the application of optimal control theory a systematic design procedure to implement dampers in structures is proposed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three‐dimensional vibration control of high‐tech facilities against earthquakes and microvibration using hybrid platform

High‐tech equipments engaged in the production of ultra‐precision products have very stringent vibration criteria for their functionality in normal operation conditions and their safety during an earthquake. Most previous investigations were based on simplified planar models of building structures, despite the fact that real ground motions and structures are always three‐dimensional. This paper hence presents a three‐dimensional analytical study of a hybrid platform on which high‐tech equipments are mounted for their vibration mitigation. The design methodology of the hybrid platform proposed in this study is based on dual‐level performance objectives for high‐tech equipments: safety against seismic hazard and functionality against traffic‐induced microvibration. The passive devices (represented by springs and viscous dampers) and the active actuators are designed, respectively, to meet vibration criteria corresponding to safety level and functionality level. A prototype three‐story building with high‐tech equipments installed on the second floor is selected in the case study to evaluate the effectiveness of the hybrid platform. The optimal location of the platform on the second building floor is determined during the design procedure in terms of the minimal H ₂ cost function of absolute velocity response. The simulation of the coupled actuator‐platform‐building system subjected to three‐dimensional ground motions indicates that the optimally designed hybrid platform can well achieve the dual target performance and effectively mitigate vibration at both ground motion levels. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Smart base isolated buildings with variable friction systems: H∞ controller and SAIVF device

A new control algorithm is developed for reducing the response of smart base isolated buildings with variable friction semiactive control systems in near‐fault earthquakes. The central idea of the control algorithm is to design a H_∞ controller for the structural system and use this controller to determine the optimum control force in the semiactive device. The H_∞ controller is designed using appropriate input and output weighting filters that have been developed for optimal performance in reducing near‐fault earthquake responses. A novel semiactive variable friction device is also developed and with the H_∞ controller shown to be effective in achieving response reductions in smart base isolated buildings in near‐fault earthquakes. The new variable friction device developed consists of four friction elements and four restoring spring elements arranged in a rhombus configuration with each arm consisting of a friction–stiffness pair. The level of friction force can be adjusted by varying the angle of the arms of the device leading to smooth variation of friction force in the device. Experimental results are presented to verify the proposed analytical model of the device. The H_∞ algorithm is implemented analytically on a five storey smart base isolated building with linear elastomeric isolation bearings and variable friction system located at the isolation level. The H_∞ controller along with the weighting filters leads to the smooth variation of friction force, thus eliminating the disadvantages associated with rapid switching. Several recent near‐fault earthquakes are considered in this study. The robustness of the H_∞ controller is shown by considering a stiffness uncertainty of ±10%. Copyright © 2006 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.     

Optimal design of tuned mass dampers for a multi‐storey cross laminated timber building against seismic loads

In this paper, the effectiveness of different design solutions for tuned mass dampers (TMD) applied to high‐rise cross‐laminated (X‐Lam) timber buildings as a means to reduce the seismic accelerations was investigated. A seven‐storey full‐scale structure previously tested on shaking table was used as a reference. The optimal design parameters of the TMDs, i.e. damping and frequency ratios, were determined by using a genetic algorithm on a simplified model of the reference structure, composed by seven masses each representing one storey. The optimal solutions for the TMDs were then applied to a detailed finite element model of the seven‐storey building, where the timber panels were modelled with shell elements and the steel connectors with linear spring. By comparing the numerical results of the building with and without multiple TMDs, the improvement in seismic response was assessed. Dynamic time‐history analyses were carried out for a set of seven natural records, selected in accordance with Eurocode 8, on the simplified model, and for Kobe earthquake ground motion on the detailed model. Results in terms of acceleration reduction for different TMD configurations show that the behaviour of the seven‐storey timber building can be significantly improved, especially at the upper storeys. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic Response of Adjacent Buildings Connected with Friction Dampers

The effectiveness of passive energy dissipation systems to improve seismic performance of connected buildings is now well established through extensive analytical and experimental investigations. However, the performance of buildings connected with friction dampers has not been looked into. In this paper, the investigation is carried out to study the structural responses of two adjacent buildings connected with friction dampers under various earthquake excitations. A formulation of the equations of motion for the two adjacent multi degree of freedom (MDOF) buildings connected with friction dampers is presented. The numerical study is carried out in two parts, namely (i) two adjacent MDOF buildings connected with friction dampers having same slip force in all the dampers and (ii) two adjacent MDOF buildings connected with friction dampers having different slip forces in the dampers. The effectiveness of the dampers in terms of the reduction of structural responses, namely, displacement, acceleration and shear forces of connected adjacent buildings is investigated. A parametric study is also conducted to investigate the optimum slip force of the dampers. In addition, the optimal placement of the dampers, rather than providing the dampers at all the floor levels is also studied to minimize the cost of the dampers. Results show that using friction dampers to connect the adjacent buildings of different fundamental frequencies can effectively reduce earthquake-induced responses of either building if slip force of the dampers is appropriately selected. Also, it is not necessary to connect the two adjacent buildings at all floors but lesser dampers at appropriate locations can significantly reduce the earthquake response of the combined system. Further, it is also observed that the reduction in the responses when the two MDOF buildings connected with 50% of the total dampers is almost as much as when they are connected at all the floors, thereby reducing the cost of the dampers significantly.     

新型形状记忆合金阻尼器的试验研究

本文在对形状记忆合金(SMA)的力学性能研究的基础上，设计和制造出一种性能良好的SMA阻尼器，介绍了其工作原理及有关试验结果，将该阻尼器安装在斜拉桥模型上，进行了斜拉桥模型振动试验。试验结果表明该阻尼器的耗能效果明显，在工程结构振动控制方面具有比较好的应用前景。     

Evolutionary aseismic design and retrofit of structures with passive energy dissipation

A new computational framework is developed for the design and retrofit of building structures by considering aseismic design as a complex adaptive process. For the initial phase of the development within this framework, genetic algorithms are employed for the discrete optimization of passively damped structural systems. The passive elements may include metallic plate dampers, viscous fluid dampers and viscoelastic solid dampers. The primary objective is to determine robust designs, including both the non‐linearity of the structural system and the uncertainty of the seismic environment. Within the present paper, this computational design approach is applied to a series of model problems, involving sizing and placement of passive dampers for energy dissipation. In order to facilitate our investigations and provide a baseline for further study, we introduce several simplifications for these initial examples. In particular, we employ deterministic lumped parameter structural models, memoryless fitness function definitions and hypothetical seismic environments. Despite these restrictions, some interesting results are obtained from the simulations and we are able to gain an understanding of the potential for the proposed evolutionary aseismic design methodology. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal seismic design of moment‐resisting steel frames with hysteretic passive devices

The effectiveness of hysteretic passive devices to protect and mitigate the response of a structure under seismic loading is well established by both analytical and experimental research. Nevertheless, a systematic and well‐established methodology for the topological distribution and size of these devices in order to achieve a desired structural response performance does not exist. In this paper, a computational framework is proposed for the optimal distribution and design of yielding metallic buckling restrained braces (BRB) and/or friction dampers within steel moment‐resisting frames (MRF) for a given seismic environment. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to solve the resulting discrete optimization problem. Specific examples involving two three‐story, four‐bay steel MRFs and a six‐story, three‐bay steel MRF retrofitted with yielding and/or friction braces are considered. The seismic environment consists of four synthetic ground motions representative of the west coast of the United States with 5% probability of exceedance in 50 years. Non‐linear time‐history analyses are employed to evaluate the potential designs. As a result of the evolutionary process, the optimal placement, strength and size of the dampers are obtained throughout the height of the steel MRF. Furthermore, the developed computational approach for seismic design based upon GAs provides an attractive procedure for design of MRFs with hysteretic passive dampers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Active viscous damping system for control of MDOF structures

The development and applications of a supplemental viscous damping device with active capacity are described. The system of the dampers defined as active viscous damping system (AVDS) is presented herein. Structural control principles defined here as active control theory (ACT) are used to obtain the control forces at each time step during an excitation. Control of the damping forces is possible due to a mechanical structure of the proposed AVDS and do not require the input of large power and energy. This system can be efficiently used to enhance the damping of a structure without adding in stiffness and strength. The added damping forces can be adjusted in a wide range. Its efficiency is demonstrated by a numerical simulation of a seven‐storey building subjected to earthquakes. The simulation shows that the behaviour of the damped structure with the AVDS is significantly improved compared to that of an uncontrolled system. Moreover, the response is better than that of adding either passive viscous dampers or electrorheological damping devices. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

非线性黏滞阻尼减震结构基于位移的设计方法

结合我国抗震设计规范,提出非线性黏滞阻尼减震结构基于位移的设计方法.根据减震结构的特点,将其性能划分为使用良好、人身安全和防止倒塌3个水平,并用层间位移角限值予以量化;以简化的方法计算非线性黏滞阻尼器的等效阻尼比.在此基础上将结构转化为等效单自由度体系,利用基于位移的设计方法对非线性黏滞阻尼减震结构进行设计,通过算例,介绍用该方法对框架结构进行非线性黏滞阻尼减震设计的设计过程.实例分析表明,提出的非线性黏滞阻尼减震结构基于位移的设计方法是可行的,并且与时程分析得出的平均结果吻合较好,而且该方法简单实用,便于操作,能够控制减震结构在不同强度水准地震作用下的性能.     

Seismic response control of a building complex utilizing passive friction damper: experimental investigation

Multi‐storey main buildings constructed with a low‐rise podium structure possess some architectural merits but the setback features of such a building complex may lead to seismic response enlargement of the main buildings. This paper explores the possibility of using passive friction dampers to connect the podium structure to the main buildings to prevent their seismic response enlargement without violating the architectural features. A series of shaking table tests were carried out on one 3‐storey and one 12‐storey building models in fully‐separated, rigidly connected, and friction damper‐linked configurations. Four sets of seismic ground motions were selected as inputs to the shaking table. The control competence of two buildings linked with friction damper was evaluated by comparison of their responses with those from fully‐separated and rigidly connected cases. Experimental results showed that unfavourable seismic response amplification did occur in the building complex in the rigidly connected case. By contrast, friction damper showed effectiveness in reducing absolute acceleration and interstorey drift responses of both buildings if friction force level was appropriately applied. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.