Exploring efficiencies of SISO, multi-SISO, and MIMO AVC schemes for floor vibration control

Continued advancements in steel and concrete materials as well as improved computer-optimized designs are resulting in more efficient floor structures, which have longer spans and are more lightweight. In addition, there is a tendency for offices to be more open-plan with fewer internal partitions. These structures possess low and closely spaced natural frequencies, sometimes falling within the range of frequencies produced by human activities, as well as low damping levels. Vibration serviceability problems are thus arising more frequently than before. The tendency for developers to require floor structures suitable for a variety of types of occupation so as to increase their economic viability also has clear ramifications for their vibration serviceability. Active vibration control (AVC) is emerging as a viable technology for mitigation of human-induced vibrations in problem floors. Past AVC research work, as demonstrated in analytical studies and successfully implemented in field trials, have focused predominantly on collocated sensor and actuator pairs in SISO or multi-SISO direct-output feedback schemes, for example, direct velocity feedback (DVF). This paper demonstrates the potential benefits that may be derived from using model-based control approaches, for example, in isolating and controlling specific problematic frequencies only. The approaches investigated here comprise of independent modal space control (IMSC) and pole-placement controllers that are implemented in SISO, SIMO, and MIMO control structures. Both the analytical and experimental studies presented are based on a laboratory structure. Attenuations in target modes of vibration ranged between 15.0-27.0 dB in the analytical studies and experimental implementation for all the controllers studied. Further, both analytical studies and experimental implementation yielded a 70-89 % reduction in acceleration responses from two different walking frequencies.

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