Direct output feedback and model-based control approaches for mitigation of human-induced vibrations in floors

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a considerable amount of research effort devoted to the development and application of active vibration control (AVC) techniques for mitigation of human-induced vibrations in floors. Through analytical studies and some field trials, it has been demonstrated that, as well as improving the vibration serviceability performance of problem floors considerably, this technology could potentially be used as a retrofit to problem floors prone to human-induced vibrations. Most of these past researches have focused on direct-output feedback AVC approaches, the traditional approach that has been investigated extensively and used for floor vibration control, and there is on-going progress towards model-based vibration control approaches, which are quite new technologies being investigated for controlling human-induced vibrations in floors and that show considerable promise. This paper reviews each of these approaches and explores the potential benefits that may be realised from their implementation in 'problematic floors', by using a laboratory structure for this case study. This research study demonstrates potential improvements in vibration mitigation performances with model-based controllers by isolating and controlling target modes of vibration. © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2012.