Structural Control Based on Semi-active Variable Friction Dampers

This paper discusses a methodology of semi-active structural control using a variable friction damper. The presented algorithm is quite simple and straightforward, in which only the slip level of the friction damper is controlled in response to the interstory response velocity of the damperinstalled story so as to maintain the target constant ductility factor. In conducting control there is advantageously no need of having other response information than the output measurement with respect to that story where the variable friction damper is installed. The effectiveness of the proposed semi-active control is demonstrated both by means of computer simulations and scale model experiments.