Hybrid control of smart structures using a novel wavelet-based algorithm

A tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) system provides the same level of vibration suppression as a conventional tuned mass damper (TMD) system but with several advantages. A new hybrid control system is presented through judicious combination of a passive supplementary damping system with a semi-active TLCD system. The new model utilizes the advantages of both passive and semi-active control systems, thereby improving the overall performance, reliability, and operability of the control system during normal operations as well as a power or computer failure. The robust wavelet-hybrid feedback least mean square (LMS) control algorithm developed recently by the authors is used to find optimal values of the control parameters. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed hybrid damper-TLCD system in reducing the vibrations under various seismic excitations are evaluated through numerical simulations performed for an eight-story frame using three different simulated earthquake ground accelerations. It is found that the new model is effective in significantly reducing the response of the structure under various seismic excitations.