Power requirements for active control of floor vibrations

Abstract

Recent research has made significant developments towards improved Active Vibration Control (AVC) technology for the mitigation of annoying vibrations in floor structures. However, there are very few examples of permanent AVC installations in floor structures; this is in part due to the requirement of a continuous power supply and the ensuing electricity costs. This paper investigates potential improvements to AVC from the perspective of the choice of control algorithm. Firstly, the use of model-based controllers as opposed to the direct output feedback controllers that have been used in most prior research effort is considered. For a model-based (MB) controller, because the controller can be designed to target modes within a specific frequency band of interest, it is possible that control effort is used more effectively for a given reduction in response. Secondly, the potential benefits of using a switching-off rule to reduce the actuator effort during periods of low structural response is investigated. Future actuators and amplifiers could incorporate a switching-off rule similar to this in order to minimise the overhead costs associated with running the amplifier. The changes in potential electricity consumption for the previously declared control laws are experimentally determined through direct measurement of the power drawn by the actuator. The results from these analyses are compared and conclusions drawn.