Seismic test of modal control with direct output teedback for building structures

In this paper, modal control with direct output feedback is formulated in a systematic mannerfor easy implementation. Its application to the seismic protection of structural systems is verified by ashaking table test, which involves a full-scale building model and an active bracing system as the controldevice. Two modal control cases, namely, one full-state feedback and one direct output feedback controlwere tested and compared. The experimental result shows that in mitigating the seismic response ofbuilding structures, modal control with direct output feedback can be as effective and efficient as that withfull-state feedback control. For practical concerns, the control performance of the proposed method in thepresence of sensor noise and stiffness modeling error was also investigated. The numerical result showsthat although the control force may be increased, the maximum floor displacements of the controlledstructure are very insensitive to sensor noise and modeling error.