Interval type-3 fuzzy control with optimized active tuned mass dampers for seismic response reduction in high-rise buildings

This study proposes an Interval Type-3 Fuzzy Logic Controller (IT3-FLC) integrated with an Active Tuned Mass Damper (ATMD) for seismic vibration mitigation in an eleven-story high-rise building. The building–ATMD system is formulated in state-space form, while the fuzzy-controller parameters and ATMD mechanical properties are jointly optimized using the Observer–Teacher–Learner-Based Optimization (OTLBO) algorithm. Four earthquake records—El Centro, Hachinohe, Kobe, and Northridge—are used simultaneously in the multi-record optimization to obtain a single fixed controller design without record-specific retuning. The optimized Type-1, Type-2, and Type-3 fuzzy controllers are compared with a passive TMD and a conventional Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) using normalized peak and RMS response indices, energy-based measures, and frequency-domain assessments. A hard actuator-force saturation constraint is also incorporated, while stroke, relative velocity, and mechanical power demands are evaluated. To assess generalization, eight additional previously unseen ground motions, including four near-fault and four far-fault records, are used for out-of-sample validation with all controller parameters kept unchanged. The results show that the Type-3 FLC–ATMD generally provides favorable and balanced reductions, particularly in displacement- and velocity-related responses, and performs better than the lower-order fuzzy controllers in many cases. However, the relative ranking remains record- and metric-dependent, with LQR and the passive TMD outperforming Type-3 for some acceleration-, RMS-, spectral-, and energy-based measures. The additional validation confirms effective response mitigation under unseen seismic excitations without implying uniform superiority over all benchmark controllers.