Optimal Control Algorithms for Earthquake-Excited Building Structures

Abstract

Considerable research efforts have been made recently to investigate the feasibility of the application of active control systems to building structures [e.g., 1–20]. The results of these studies indicate that some active control systems are promising for building structures under hostile environments, such as strong wind gusts, earthquakes, etc. The theoretical study, however, should be demonstrated experimentally. Recently, laboratory experiments for building structures subjected to seismic excitations have been undertaken at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In this connection, one important task, among many others, is the investigation of various optimal control algorithms for practical applications to building structures under earthquake excitations. It is the objective of this paper (i) to critically review various classical optimal control algorithms in relation to their effectiveness, practical implementation and the required on-line computations, and (ii) to propose an instantaneous optimal open-loop control algorithm. Because the base motions of the seismic-excited building can be measured, the implementation of such an open-loop algorithm is practical. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of various optimal control algorithms.