New Real-Time Controlled Semi-Active Tuned Mass Damper for Human, Vortex and Wind Excitations

Abstract

<p>The concept of a new real-time controlled TMD based on a semi-active oil damper for human, vortex and wind excitations is described. The desired control force is formulated based on the feedbacks of actual structural acceleration and actual relative motion of damper mass. The associated feedback gains are tuned by the control engineer with respect to the TMD specifications. The desired semi-active control force is generated by a semi-active oil damper with controlled bypass valve in order to minimize energy consumption of the actuator and to maximize fail-safe behaviour, i.e. the system automatically behaves as a correctly tuned passive TMD in case of power break down. The numerical case study of a footbridge demonstrates that the vibration reduction due to the real-time controlled TMD is the same as expected from a passive TMD with approx. 4 times bigger damper mass. On the other hand, for same damper masses, the efficiency of the real-time controlled TMD is far higher than that of the passive TMD without generating greater relative motion amplitudes of the TMD mass.</p>