Simultaneous optimal design of the structural model for the semi-active control design and the model-based semi-active control

Various semi-active control methods have been proposed for vibration control of civil structures. In contrast to active vibration control systems, all semi-active control systems are essentially asymptotically stable because of the stability of general structural systems with structural damping and the energy dissipative nature of the semi-active control itself. In this study, by utilizing the aforementioned property on the stability of semi-active control systems, a structural model for the semi-active control design and a model-based semi-active control law are simultaneously designed so that the control performance of the resulting semi-active control system becomes good. The model for the control system design is assumed to be a linear parameter varying model with adjustable structural design parameters. The semi-active control law is based on the one step ahead prediction of the structural response of the designed model for the control system design. A genetic algorithm is adopted to obtain design parameters in the model for the control system design and the semi-active control law. Those design parameters are optimized so that the closed-loop system with the detailed dynamic model that accurately approximates the dynamic behavior of the real structural system and the semi-active control law obtained with the model for the control system design. The effectiveness of the present approach is shown with a simulation study. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.