Novel metaheuristic-based tuning of PID controllers for seismic structures and verification of robustness

In the present study, an active structural control using metaheuristic tuned Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) type controllers is presented. The aim of the study is to propose a feasible active control application considering time delay and a feasible control force. In the optimum control methodology, near-fault directivity pulse was considered for ground motion. Three different metaheuristic algorithms are separately employed in the optimum tuning of PID parameters such as proportional gain, integral time and derivative time. The employed algorithms are Flower Pollination Algorithm, Teaching Learning Based Optimization and Jaya algorithm. The maximum control force limit is considered as a design constraint. The methodology contains the time delay consideration and a process to avoid the stability problem on the trial results during the optimization process. The method is explained in three stages as The Pre-Optimization Stage, The Dynamic Analysis Stage and The Optimization Stage. The optimum PID parameters of different algorithms are very different, but the performance of active control is similar since a similar control signal can be generated by different proportion of controller gains such as proportion, integral and derivative processes. As the conclusion of the study, the amount of control force must be chosen carefully since big control forces may resulted with stability problems if the control system has long delay. •Seismic structures with active tendons are investigated.•Novel optimum tuning methods for controllers are proposed.•Metaheuristics such as FPA, TLBO and JA are employed.•PID type controllers are used.