Design and Modelling of An Active System for Control of Floor Vibrations

Abstract

Typically, architectural elements, mass, and/or stiffness are considered potential solutions for floor vibration. Alternatives to these fixes include but are not limited to, adding frame members, erecting full-height partitions, and thickening the floor slab. These solutions are expensive to install in a new building, challenging to implement and uncomfortable for the residents of older structures. A solution like erecting full-height dividers also goes against the idea of open-plan offices that are common in tenant fit-outs. To address the treatment of vibrating floors, tuned mass dampers (TMDs) are frequently attached to the floor to provide reactive damping. TMDs are the most practical, affordable, and least disruptive floor vibration control option for both new and existing floor systems because of their little weight penalty, cheap cost, and ease of installation. It is important to include damping into a floor's design if you want it to be light, open, and free of vibrations while also adhering to the current serviceability standards. There are several kinds of floor vibrations that result in the structural deterioration over time. Some are human induced, either through the usage of machines the improvement in structural design that allows for more slender build, or simply walking at differing resonating frequencies; others are natural, such as earthquakes or strong winds which create the need for active control of vibrations. This paper investigates the implementation of different vibrational control methods into the flooring or walls of the building in order to gain stability in times the building is under stress. TMDs are merged with control systems to form AVCs. Several different methods are discussed such as using the Hybrid tuned mass dampers, partial floor loads as multiple tuned mass dampers, VIVDs, PID controllers, lightweight floor systems, etc. Hybrid TMDs have modeling algorithms that are futher studied. To achieve high optimization of any civil structure in order to have control over vibrations, the hybrid modelling technique uses both statistical analysis of energy (SEA) and finite element method (FEM) to foretell operation of the controller. There is a quick response to any predictions simulated, in structures that are targets of medium to high frequencies. Most passive damping systems have drawbacks such as pre requirements of high mass of inertia and low efficiencies in transient waves, especially when there is a change in structure or mass. Active controlled tuned mass damper minimizes these drawbacks and increase efficiency of the damping system, even expanding to a larger range of frequencies located at the transient phase. Some major criteria for developing and designing AVCs that require a careful consideration are the sturdiness and operational specifications, the minimum instability of closed loops, and the highest stroke and overloading of actuators.