This paper presents a strategy for active damping of cable structures, using active tendons. The first part of the paper summarizes the theoretical background: the control law is briefly presented together with the main results of an approximate linear theory which allows to predict the closed- loop poles with a root locus technique. The second part of the paper reports on experimental results obtained with two test structures: the first one is a small size mock-up representative of a cable-stayed bridge during the construction phase. The control of the parametric vibration of passive cables due to deck vibration is demonstrated. The second one is a 30 m long mock-up built on the reaction wall of the ELSA test facility at the JRC Ispra (Italy); this test structure is used to demonstrate the practical implementation of the control strategy with hydraulic actuators.

Date Published: 20 April 2000
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 3988, Smart Structures and Materials 2000: Smart Systems for Bridges, Structures, and Highways, (20 April 2000); doi: 10.1117/12.383140

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3988:
Smart Structures and Materials 2000: Smart Systems for Bridges, Structures, and Highways
S.-C. Liu, Editor(s)