Decentralized sliding mode control of a building using MR dampers

This paper presents the structural control results of shaking table tests for a steel frame structure in order to evaluate the performance of a number of proposed semi-active control algorithms using multiple magnetorheological (MR) dampers. The test structure is a six-story steel frame equipped with MR dampers. Four different cases of damper arrangement in the structure are selected for the control study. In experimental tests, the El Centro earthquake and Kobe earthquake ground motion data are used as excitations. Further, several decentralized sliding mode control algorithms are developed in this paper specifically for applications of MR dampers in building structures. Various control algorithms are used for the semi-active control studies, including the proposed decentralized sliding mode control (DSMC), LQR control, and passive-on and passive-off control. Each control algorithm is formulated specifically for the use of MR dampers installed in building structures. Additionally, each algorithm uses measurements of the device velocity and device drift for the determination of the control action to ensure that the algorithm can be implemented in a physical structure. The performance of each algorithm is evaluated based on the results of shaking table tests, and the advantages of each algorithm are compared and discussed. The reduction of story drifts and floor accelerations throughout the structure is examined