Experimental test of asymmetrical cable-stayed bridges using MR-damper for vibration control

• A semi-active control method is studied to effectively control bridge vibration.
• Vibration of asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge is decreased by means of MR-damper.
• Control Algorithm enabled control effect of MR-damper to increase.
• Semi-active control method was shown superior performance of vibration control.

In this paper, a semi-active control by MR-damper is researched; its purpose is to effectively control vibration of asymmetrical cable-stayed bridges when earthquake is loaded on the type of bridge. For an experimental study, a model of 10.2 m high and 28 m long asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge structure was built being similar to a real one in size and function. A MR damper was also designed in proper size suitable for the control of the model. The experiment was performed in the way in which three piers were fixed on three shaking tables with 30% of El-centro earthquake wave, and a control device was placed on the lower part of its upper deck for horizontal control. As for control algorithms, Lyapunov and Clipped-optimal control algorithms were applied. The effectiveness of the semi-active control with MR damper for the asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge was measured under five control conditions: Un-control, Passive-off, Passive-on, Lyapunov Control, Clipped-optimal Control. The experiment showed that the semi-active control applying Lyapunov and Clipped-optimal algorithms effectively increased controllability almost in double, and decreased displacement 75% compared with the condition of passive-off. Therefore the semi-active method suggested in this paper is proven effective in controlling asymmetrical cable-stayed bridges.