Development of Resilient Seismic Response Control with a Semi-active System

Abstract

An approach to develop resilient structures using seismic response control with a semi-active system is introduced. Actual system performance of control device installing to the practical building structure is evaluated with a RTHS (real-time hybrid simulation) test and an online simulator with the shaking table of Kobe University is used. Specifications of this online simulator system are explained in detail. As one example operating the RTHS tests, performance evaluation for the mid-story isolated building structure controlled by a semi-active device is focused. First, mechanical properties of the testing apparatus of the MR (magneto-rheological) rotary inertia mass damper used for semi-active control are quantified by the device tests, and then numerical simulation model of this damper is provided. Next, the RTHS test studies are operated and the test results are compared with the pure numerical simulation results by the fully modeled analyses. Validity of this online simulator and exactness of numerical model of the semi-active damper are confirmed. Moreover, reproducibility and reliability of the operation for the RTHS tests are evaluated by observing the displacement and the acceleration generated on the shaking table. As a result, it is assured that both the target displacement and acceleration of the shaking table were accurately reproduced under the real-time calculation in this online simulator. And it is confirmed that performance evaluations for the actual test specimen of the semi-active control device were also accurately done through the RTHS test method by using the shaking table.