Optimisation of a PID controller for a two-floor structure under earthquake excitation based on the bees algorithm

Abstract

The control of vibration and displacement in structures under seismic excitation is very challenging, and designing a structural control system against disturbances has drawn great attention. This paper concentrates on implementing the bees algorithm to tune gains of traditional PID controller for active vibration control of a building-like structure with two floors under Northridge Earthquake excitation. Bees algorithm is a diverse method to ensure an efficient solution for optimisation of a controller according to customary trial-error design methods. The main aim of this study is optimisation of KP, KI and KD gains with bees algorithm in order to obtain a more effective PID controller to suppress vibrations of the floors during the earthquake excitation. After definition of the system and bees algorithm, PID controller offline tuned with bees algorithm using mathematical model of system. Moreover, the aim is to compare the performances of the BA with an existing optimisation method, genetic algorithm (GA), implemented on the system. The paper presents the experimental results that were obtained from the structure system to show the efficiency of the tuned PID controller. As a result, the performance and effectiveness of the tuned PID controller are investigated and verified experimentally. The displacements and accelerations of the floors and the cart are decreased considerably. The experimental responses of the system are given in graphical form.