Semi-active fuzzy control for seismic response reduction using magnetorheological dampers

A semi-active fuzzy control strategy for seismic response reduction using a magnetorheological (MR) damper is presented. When a control method based on fuzzy set theory for a structure with a MR damper is used for vibration reduction of a structure, it has an inherent robustness, and easiness to treat the uncertainties Of input data from the ground motion and Structural vibration sensors, and the ability to handle the non-linear behavior of the structure because there is no longer the need for an exact mathematical model of the structure. For a clipped-optimal control algorithm, the command voltage of a MR damper is set at either zero or the maximum level. However, a semi-active fuzzy control system has benefit to produce the required voltage to be input to the damper so that a desirable damper force can be produced and thus decrease the control force to reduce the structural response. Moreover, the proposed control strategy is fail-safe in that the bounded-input, bounded-output stability of the controlled structure is guaranteed. The results of the numerical simulations show that the proposed semi-active control system consisting of a fuzzy controller and a MR damper can be beneficial in reducing seismic responses of structures. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.