Active vibration suppression through positive acceleration feedback on a building-like structure: An experimental study

This work deals with the structural and dynamic analysis of a building-like structure consisting of a three-story building with one active vibration absorber. The base of the structure is perturbed using an electromagnetic shaker, which provides forces with a wide range of excitation frequencies, including some resonance frequencies of the structure. One beam-column of the structure is coupled with a PZT stack actuator to reduce the vibrations. The overall mechanical structure is modeled using Euler–Lagrange methodology and validated using experimental modal analysis and Fine Element Method (FEM) techniques. The active control laws are synthesized to actively attenuate the vibration system response via the PZT stack actuator, caused by excitation forces acting on the base of the structure. The control scheme is obtained using Positive Acceleration Feedback (PAF) and Multiple Positive Acceleration Feedback (MPAF) to improve the closed-loop system response. Some experimental results are included to illustrate the overall system performance. •Modeling, modal analysis and active vibration control on a building-like structure with a PZT stack actuator submitted to harmonic and seismic ground motion.•Experimental characterization and evaluation using modal analysis techniques and finite element methods.•Application of Positive Acceleration Feedback (PAF) and Multiple Positive Acceleration Feedback (MPAF) for active vibration attenuation of one single mode and, simultaneously, for the first three dominant lateral modes.•Experimental results for harmonic ground motion lead to attenuations about 67%, 82% and 90%, respectively.•Experimental results for seismic-type ground motion yield attenuation about 50%.