Mechanics and dynamics of Intelligent Passive Vibration Control System

A new structural vibration control system called the intelligent Passive Vibration Control (IPVC) System is presented. Such a system theoretically consists of two parts: a passive part (first) and an intelligent part (second). Generally, under small earthquake excitations, only the first part works as a base-isolation device. In the case of intense earthquake shaking, if the response (e.g., the displacement response) of the structure exceeds the determined allowance of the first part, then the intelligent part also works to change the mechanical characteristics of the system. The general constitutive law and the mechanism of the system are presented. Assuming the passive part and the intelligent part to be viscoelastic material with fading memory, the mechanics of such a new system leave been studied, and the theoretical solution to the vibration equation is presented. Also a numerical simulation was done for a real twin structure (one is nonisolated and the other is base isolated) built at the campus of Tohoku University together with one more structure having the IPVC system. The result clearly shows that the system is effective, especially for reduction of maximum displacement response.