A new approach to shock isolation and vibration suppression using a resetable actuator

A novel low power control technique along with a new class of actuators is developed for shock isolation and control of structural vibrations. In contrast to other techniques, including conventional viscous or rate damping, the force produced by the actuator has no velocity dependence. Several experimental, analytical, and simulation results are presented in support of this new, semi-active technique for structural control. The basic approach is to manipulate the system stiffness through the use of resetable actuators. With the proposed control approach, the actuator behaves like a linear spring. However, at appropriate times, the effective unstretched length of the actuator is changed--or reset--to extract energy from the vibrating structure. Experimental validation of the actuator model, analytical results on stability and actuator-placement, and simulation results for earthquake applications are presented.