Suppression of mechanical vibrations in a building like structure by means of a piezoelectric patch actuator and positive acceleration feedback

This paper addresses the suppression of mechanical vibrations in a building-like mechanical structure. The suppression is achieved by the application of a piezoelectric patch actuator on the base of the mechanical structure. The overall system is modeled using finite element analysis and validated using experimental modal analysis techniques. The control law used to properly attenuate the mechanical vibrations with excitation frequencies, in a given frequency band, is based on the so-called Positive Acceleration Feedback, implemented with one and multiple virtual passive absorbers tuned at different vibration modes. The system model and the proposed active vibration control schemes are validated on an experimental setup of a small-scale 3-story building-like structure.