Active Vibration Control of a Multi-Panel Floor Area

Modern structures are increasingly being constructed ever more slender and with longer spans between columns. These aesthetically pleasing designs, however, are more susceptible to high levels of vibration caused by their human occupants. This has led to research into technology, such as active vibration control (AVC), that can significantly reduce vibrations whilst maintaining the slender structural form. Previous research in the area of AVC for human-induced vibrations in floors has focused on single points where the control is located. This paper investigates the effect over the entire area in a multi-panel floor. Simulations are performed on a finite element model of a real office floor with a realistic walking force applied, simulating the in-service conditions of an office environment. The power demand of the active control system is then investigated, in particular, consideration of the trade-off between performance increase and power demand reduction. The benefits of using high feedback gains to control the entire area of this multi-panel floor are shown to be limited. Subsequently, power and cost savings could be realised through the use of reduced gain and/or a switching-off rule.