Design and validation of a hardware-in-the-loop test bench for evaluating the performance of an active mass damper

The purpose of this study is to propose an innovative solution for evaluating the performance of a full-scale Active Mass Damper (AMD). The AMD adopted is a custom hydraulic actuator, developed for active control of existing buildings against earthquakes. For vibration control, a sky-hook algorithm was implemented. Its characteristics ensure good robustness, which is fundamental in structural engineering since buildings are subjected to significant variation in dynamic properties in presence of damage or ambient conditions. A Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) test bench was specifically designed to simulate the actual working condition of the anti-seismic system. The HIL setup consists of a shaking table moved by a hydraulic actuator in accordance with the roof’s displacement, evaluated using a structural numerical model of the building to which the AMD is fixed. The presence of two distinct active systems (HIL and AMD) could generate control issues; therefore, a Triple Variable Control logic was introduced to reduce the interaction delay. The effectiveness of the proposed AMD is validated comparing the roof’s displacement in an uncontrolled structure with that in a controlled one. Also, the robustness of the control algorithm was verified using a non-linear structural model and applying seismic excitation at different intensities.