Abstract
Semi-active seismic isolation systems with the controllable friction damper using the piezoelectric actuators had been proposed to reduce response accelerations and displacements comparing with those of the passive systems. However it is difficult to apply this controllable friction damper to large structures, because super large piezoelectric actuators and large amplifier are needed for the mechanism. A new controllable friction damper using hydraulic pump driven by giant magnetostrictive actuators in this study. This hydraulic pump can make quick responses, and this controllable friction damper using this hydraulic pump produces large force. This paper outlines the results of the characterization experiments of the new controllable friction damper and excitation tests on the semi-active seismic isolation system with this controllable friction damper.
