This paper presents the problem definition for the first generation of benchmark structural control problems for cable-stayed bridges. The benchmark problem is based on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge that is currently under construction in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Construction of the bridge is expected to be completed in 2003. The goal of this study is to provide a testbed for the development of strategies for the control of cable-stayed bridges. Based on detailed drawings, a three-dimensional evaluation model has been developed to represent the complex behavior of the full scale benchmark bridge. The linear evaluation model is developed using the equations of motion generated around the deformed equilibrium position. Evaluation criteria are selected that are consistent with the goals of seismic response control of a cable-stayed bridge. Control constraints ensure that the results are representative of a control implementation on the physical structure. Each participant in this benchmark study is given the task of defining ͑including devices, sensors, and algorithms͒, evaluating, and reporting on their proposed control strategies. These strategies may be either passive, active, semiactive, or a combination thereof. A simulation program is provided to facilitate direct comparison of the capabilities and efficiency of the various control strategies. The problem is available through the internet in the form of a set of MATLAB ® programs and includes a sample control design to guide participants through the benchmark problem.

SUMMARYThis paper presents the problem definition for the second generation of benchmark structural control problems for cable-stayed bridges. The goal of this study is to provide a testbed for the development of strategies for the control of cable stayed-bridges. Based on detailed drawings of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, a three-dimensional evaluation model has been developed to represent the complex behavior of the full-scale benchmark bridge. Phase II considers more complex structural behavior than phase I, including multi-support and transverse excitations. Evaluation criteria are presented for the design problem that are consistent with the goals of seismic response control of a cable-stayed bridge. Control constraints are also provided to ensure that the benchmark results are representative of a control implementation on the physical structure. Each participant in this benchmark bridge control study is given the task of defining, evaluating and reporting on their proposed control strategies. Participants should also evaluate the robust stability and performance of their resulting designs through simulation with an evaluation model which includes additional mass due to snow loads. The problem and a sample control design have been made available in the form of a set of MATLAB equations.

The seismic design of optimal damped outrigger structures relies on the assumption that most of the input energy will be absorbed by the dampers, whilst the rest of the structure remains elastic. When subjected to strong earthquakes, nevertheless, the building structure may exhibit plastic hinges before the dampers begin to work. In order to determine to which extent the use of viscously damped outriggers would avoid damage, both the host structure's hysteretic behaviour and the dampers' performance need to be evaluated in parallel. This article provides a parametric study on the factors that influence the distribution of seismic energy in tall buildings equipped with damped outriggers: First, the influence of outrigger's location, damping coefficients, and rigidity ratios core-to-outrigger and core-to-column in the seismic performance of a 60-story building with conventional and with damped outriggers is studied. In parallel, nonlinear behaviour of the outrigger with and without viscous dampers is examined under small, moderate, strong, and severe long-period earthquakes to assess the hysteretic energy distribution through the core and outriggers. The results show that, as the ground motion becomes stronger, viscous dampers effectively reduce the potential of damage in the structure if compared to conventional outriggers. However, the use of dampers cannot entirely prevent damage under critical excitations. KEYWORDSdamped outrigger, energy distribution, hysteretic energy, strong earthquakes, tall buildings, viscous damper 1 | INTRODUCTION Outrigger systems consist of a series of cantilever truss beams or shear walls connecting the building core with the perimeter columns. As a result, the axial forces acting at the end of the outriggers help the reduction of the total deflection of tall buildings by increasing the restoring moment.Dampers have been introduced between the perimeter columns and the outriggers, resulting in an increase in the overall damping of the building, instead of an increase of static stiffness and strength. [1] A well-known first implementation of this system in twins' 60-story buildings is reported in Willford and Smith. [2] Park et al. [3] reported the installation of damped outriggers in a 68-story tower in South Korea. In a recent review, [4] Smith reported two more applications of damped outriggers in tall buildings. All the authors point out that the addition of supplementary damping systems not only reduced the overall vibration response, but also construction costs.Numerical and experimental studies have been conducted to extend these damper-based control capabilities towards an improved reduction of the dynamic response, [3,[5][6][7] including seismic scenarios. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] However, few studies explore the performance of damped outriggers under strong earthquake motion. Generally, studies are based on the use of peak ground acceleration (PGA) values up to 0.4 g, whereas strong earthquakes may exhibit PGAs of about 1.0 g. At the same time, most of the resea...

The use of a single set of outriggers equipped with oil viscous dampers increases the damping ratio of tall buildings in about 6-10%, depending on the loading conditions. However, could this ratio be further increased by the addition of another set of outriggers? Should this additional set include dampers too? To answer these questions, several double damped outrigger configurations for tall buildings are investigated and compared with an optimally designed single damped outrigger, located at elevation 0.7 of the total building's height (h). Using free vibration, double outrigger configurations increasing damping up to a ratio equal to the single-based optimal are identified. Next, selected configurations are subjected to several levels of eight ground motions to compare their capability for avoiding damage under critical excitations. Last, a simplified economic analysis highlights the advantages of each optimal configuration in terms of cost savings. The results show that, within the boundaries of this study, combining a damped outrigger at 0.5h with a conventional outrigger at 0.7h is more effective in reducing hysteretic energy ratios and economically viable if compared with a single damped outrigger solution. Moreover, double damped outrigger configurations for tall buildings exhibit broader display of optimal combinations, which offer flexibility of design to the high-rise architecture.

For the last two decades, developments in damage detection algorithms have greatly increased the potential for autonomous decisions about structural health. However, we are still struggling to build autonomous tools that can match the ability of a human to detect and localize the quantity of damage in structures. Therefore, there is a growing interest in merging the computational and cognitive concepts to improve the solution of structural health monitoring (SHM). The main object of this research is to apply the human-machine cooperative approach on a tower structure to detect damage. The cooperation approach includes haptic tools to create an appropriate collaboration between SHM sensor networks, statistical compression techniques and humans. Damage simulation in the structure is conducted by releasing some of the bolt loads. Accelerometers are bonded to various locations of the tower members to acquire the dynamic response of the structure. The obtained accelerometer results are encoded in three different ways to represent them as a haptic stimulus for the human subjects. Then, the participants are subjected to each of these stimuli to detect the bolt loosened damage in the tower. Results obtained from the human-machine cooperation demonstrate that the human subjects were able to recognize the damage with an accuracy of 88 ± 20.21% and response time of 5.87 ± 2.33 s. As a result, it is concluded that the currently developed human-machine cooperation SHM may provide a useful framework to interact with abstract entities such as data from a sensor network.