A Study on Transverse Vibrations in a Column and an Overview of Structural Control

Abstract

During an earthquake a building experiences seismic loads that may lead to the failure of structural members. In order to mitigate the dynamic loads, many are leaning heavily on structural control methods, which involve controlling the movement of the structure or of specific members to reduce the vibratory responses. It is vital to understand the behavior of the structural members experiencing the vibrations before being able to monitor and control them. Mode shapes show the different movement of columns by relying on the frequency the column experiences. These shapes can help to identify useful sensor locations. This research focuses on the structural characteristics of a column that experiences earthquake loads by (1) deriving transient vibrations with specific boundary conditions, (2) creating mode shapes to understand the movement of the column, and (3) providing location(s) for a structural control application using piezoelectric sensor(s). The paper will also give a background on the structural control that can be applied, and a proposed model for the column for further research.