ABSTRACT
During the last few years semi-actively controllable devices using magnetorheological (MR) fluids have been proven to be particularly suited for earthquake engineering applications. They contain no moving parts but the piston and the special, rheological fluid and this feature makes them reliable and rapid in their response. The experimental characterization of recently manufactured semi-actively operating MR dampers as well as an analysis of possible control algorithms has been performed. In the present paper, the efficiency of such a semi-active control system compared to a fully passive one has been experimentally assessed through its application for the reduction of the seismic response of a braced steel frame mock-up, experimentally tested during the SPACE (Semi-active and Passive Control of the Dynamic Behaviour of Structures subjected to Earthquakes, Wind and Vibrations) Research Project.
