Control of a Seismically Excited Building Using μ-Synthesis

Abstract

Over the past thirty years, there has been significant progress in protecting structures from earthquakes through structural control, which effectively dissipates energy from dynamic loads. Numerous studies have shown the potential of active control methods in reducing structural responses, leading to improved human safety and seismic structure protection. However, existing control approaches often overlook uncertainties present in real-world scenarios, such as variations in structural coefficients and dynamics. To address this, we aim to employ μ-synthesis, a robust control technique widely used in various fields, which explicitly accounts for these uncertainties during controller design. This paper presents simulations of a three-story building subjected to seismic excitation, with an active bracing system attached to the first floor. We design a robust controller considering both parametric and dynamic uncertainties, demonstrating its effectiveness in significantly reducing structural response amid varying uncertainties. The robustness of the controller is evaluated by testing it under worst-case uncertainty variations.