Frequency domain control based on quantitative feedback theory for vibration suppression in structures equipped with magnetorheological dampers

This paper addresses the problem of designing quantitative feedback theory (QFT) based controllers for the vibration reduction in a structure equipped with an MR damper. In this way, the controller is designed in the frequency domain and the natural frequencies of the structure can be directly accounted for in the process. Though the QFT methodology was originally conceived of for linear time invariant systems, it can be extended to nonlinear systems. A new methodology is proposed for characterizing the nonlinear hysteretic behavior of the MR damper through the uncertainty template in the Nichols chart. The resulting controller performance is evaluated in a real-time hybrid testing experiment.