Hardware for nonlinear structural control experiments

地震产生的荷载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。为结构配备冲击控制装置(如执行器)的结构控制方法有可能显著减少损害。然而，要从这些收获中受益，我们不仅必须了解它们设计中涉及的理论问题，还必须学习如何最好地在实践中应用这些装置。滑铁卢大学的结构实验室不存在进行结构控制实验的基本硬件。没有实验验证，就不可能对结构控制方法的实施涉及的问题有一个全面的了解。在这项提议中，需要资金购买进行结构控制试验所需的基本部件，即一个控制器单元、三个直线伺服电机(执行器)、传感器和一个传感器电源单元。在拟议的实验中，缩尺结构模型将受到模拟地震的影响，结构响应将通过放置在结构中的致动器来稳定。地震激励将使用连接到滑动组件的致动器来模拟，滑动组件由安装在低摩擦导轨上的铝质工作台组成。致动器将被放置在结构模型中的关键位置，以稳定地震期间的反应，如楼板漂移和楼板加速度。该项目寻求开发的技术和理解将代表着对结构控制方法的理解的重大进步，并朝着减少地震对社会的风险的方向发展。

Loads from earthquakes 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. Structural control methods, which equip structures with shock control devices such as actuators have the potential to significantly reduce damage. However, to benefit from the gains, we must not only understand the theoretical issues involved in their design, but also learn how best to apply these devices in practice.    Basic hardware to conduct structural control experiments does not exist in the structures lab at the University of Waterloo. Without experimental validation, it is not possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues involved with the implementation of structural control methods. In this proposal, funds are requested to purchase the basic components necessary to conduct structural control experiments, namely, one controller unit, three linear servo motors (actuators), transducers and one sensor power supply unit. In the proposed experiments, scaled structural models will be subjected to simulated earthquakes, and the structural responses will be stabilized using actuators placed within the structure. Earthquake excitation will be simulated using an actuator connected to a sliding assembly consisting of an aluminum table mounted on low friction rails. Actuators will be placed at strategic locations within the structural models to stabilize the responses such as floor drifts and floor accelerations during periods of shaking.The techniques and understanding this project seeks to develop would represent a significant advance in the understanding of structural control methods, and towards reducing the risk to the society due to earthquakes.