Vibration control strategy for large‐scale structures with incomplete multi‐actuator system and neighbouring state information

The synthesis of optimal controllers for vibrational protection of large‐scale structures with multiple actuation devices and partial state information is a challenging problem. In this study, the authors present a design strategy that allows computing this kind of controllers by using standard linear matrix inequality optimisation tools. To illustrate the main elements of the new approach, a five‐story structure equipped with two interstory actuation devices and subjected to a seismic disturbance is considered. For this control setup, three different controllers are designed: an ideal state‐feedback H ∞ controller with full access to the complete state information and two static output‐feedback H ∞ controllers with restricted neighbouring state information. To assess the performance of the proposed controllers, the corresponding frequency responses are investigated and a proper set of numerical simulations are conducted, using the full scale North‐South El Centro 1940 seismic record as ground acceleration input. The obtained results indicate that, despite the severe information constraints, the proposed static output‐feedback controllers attain a level of seismic protection that is very similar to that achieved by the ideal state‐feedback controller with complete state information.