Instantaneous Optimal Control with Acceleration and Velocity Feedback

Keywords: Active Control Systems, Secondary Systems, Protective Systems, Optimal Control, Seismic Performance, Active Mass Dampers, Active Tendon Systems, Structural Response, and Earthquake Engineering.

Abstract: In the experimental demonstration of aseismic control systems, difficulties were encountered in the measurement of the displacement response of the structure. During earthquake ground motions, both the building and the ground are moving so that there is no absolute reference for the determination of the displacement response. An optimal control theory is proposed herein, which utilizes the measurements of acceleration and velocity responses rather than the displacement and velocity measurements. Such an optimal control law is developed based on the instantaneous optimal control theories, and it is evaluated and compared with other available optimal control laws. Numerical results indicate that the performance of the proposed optimal control law is as good as that of other optimal control laws currently available. However, the contribution of such an optimal control law to the practical implementation of active control systems for seismic hazard mitigations may be quite significant.