Semiactive control of nonlinear and deteriorating structures

地震和其他极端事件的负荷可能会对民用基础设施造成严重破坏。例如，温哥华市设计级地震预计造成的损失为30亿美元。配备了被称为智能结构的辅助设备的结构有可能显著减少损害。然而，为了从这些收益中受益，我们必须首先学习如何最好地应用这些设备并最大限度地提高它们的可靠性。半主动控制由于其可靠性和低能耗需求，是一种有吸引力的结构控制手段。半主动控制使用战略性放置的阻尼器，并使用控制算法对其进行有效调整。为了将这一新技术集成到新的和现有的结构中，开发可靠而有效的算法对结构中常见的非线性、结构特性的不确定性和劣化具有鲁棒性是至关重要的。这种自适应半主动控制技术的发展是本研究的主要目标。这一目标将通过理论分析、控制算法的开发和计算机模拟来实现，这些模拟解释并解决了结构中常见的非线性和不确定性。常用的半主动装置，如磁流变阻尼器和摩擦阻尼器将被用来开发和实施适当的控制策略。申请人之前对基础隔震建筑控制的研究已经产生了几个复杂的模拟程序，这些程序将被扩展以实现本研究计划中寻求的新概念和算法。该项目寻求开发的技术和理解将代表着在设计新结构、改造现有结构方面的重大进步，并朝着减少自然灾害对社会造成的风险迈出了重要的一步。

Loads from earthquakes and other extreme events can cause serious damage to civil infrastructure. For example, the projected loss from a design level earthquake in the city of Vancouver is $3 billion. Structures equipped with supplemental devices, called smart structures, have the potential to significantly reduce damage. However, to benefit from the gains, we must first learn how best to apply these devices and maximize their reliability.     Semiactive control is an attractive means to provide structural control due to its reliability and low energy needs. Semiactive control uses strategically placed dampers, with control algorithms to adjust them effectively. In order to integrate this new technology in new and existing structures, it is critical to develop reliable and effective algorithms robust to nonlinearities, uncertainties in structural properties, and deterioration, all of which commonly occur in structures. The development of such adaptive semiactive control techniques is the main objective of the proposed research. This objective will be achieved by theoretical analyses, development of control algorithms, and computer simulations that account for, and address, commonly observed nonlinearities and uncertainties in structures. Popular semiactive devices, such as magnetorheological dampers and friction dampers will be used to develop and carry out the appropriate control strategies. The applicant's previous research on control of base isolated buildings has resulted in several sophisticated simulation programs that will be extended to implement the new concepts and algorithms sought in this research program.The techniques and understanding this project seeks to develop would represent a significant advance in the design of new structures, retrofitting existing structures, and an important step towards reducing the risk to the society due to natural hazards.