The Use of Semi-actively Controlled Interactions for Earthquake Response Control of Structures

This paper examines the performance of a structural response control approach which involves controlled interactions between structural systems or components to reduce resonance buildup during seismic excitation. The strategy of the control approach is to remove energy associated with vibration from one of the systems. Certain types of elements are employed to physically produce the interactions, which consist of reaction forces applied to the systems. The mechanical properties of the interaction elements are altered in real time by using switching components to effect changes in the reaction forces which are favorable to the control strategy. Using an ensemble of well-known earthquake time-histories as excitation input, numerical simulations are performed and some results are presented for several kinds of control cases.