Market-based control of linear structural systems

To limit the response of structures during external disturbances such as strong winds or large seismic events, structural control systems can be used. In the structural engineering eld, attention has been shifted from active control to semi-active control systems. Unlike active control system devices, semiactive devices are compact, have e cient power consumption characteristics and are less expensive. As a result, an environment of a large number of actuators and sensors will result, rendering a complex large-scale dynamic system. Such a system is best controlled by a decentralized approach such as market-based control (MBC). In MBC, the system is modelled as a market place of buyers and sellers that leads to an e cient allocation of control power. The resulting MBC solution is shown to be locally Pareto optimal. This novel control approach is applied to three linear structural systems ranging from a one-storey structure to a 20-storey structure, all controlled by semi-active hydraulic dampers. It is shown that MBC is competitive in the reduction of structural responses during large seismic loadings as compared to the centralized control approach of the linear quadratic regulation controller. Copyright ? 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.