Hybrid Control of Buildings with Hysteretic Cladding Connection Elements

Publisher Summary This chapter describes analytical investigations of hybrid control systems for buildings designed to combine passive damping provided by cladding-structure interaction with robust active control systems. Hybrid passive–active systems for controlling building seismic response offer combines the best features of each to achieve superior performance. A hybrid control system, consisting of passive cladding and active tendon systems, was found to be an effective means of reducing building seismic response for a broad range of input motion levels. The passive system consisted of heavy cladding combined with specially designed advanced connector elements which dissipate energy at low excitation levels and yet retain structural integrity under larger motion. The passive control forces were introduced through hysteretic interaction between heavy architectural cladding and the supporting structure, while the active control forces were assumed to be generated by an active tendon system. The active tendon system was designed to operate at higher excitation levels. To illustrate the role of hybrid control applications in the seismic response of building structures, simulation studies were performed on a 1/4 scale 6-story steel space frame. When used together, the resulting hybrid system was shown to yield reduced demands on either the passive or active systems acting alone, while at the same time lowering building interstory drift response. Analytical results remain to be verified with laboratory experiments on the case study structure to complete the validation of the concept of heavy cladding systems as part of an economical hybrid control system for buildings in seismic regions.