More than twenty buildings with passive response control system, including “base-isolation”, have been constructed up to the present, while, active response control system is now entering the stage of practical use. But their technology have not perfectly been completed yet. Base-isolated device now widely used, which employs laminated rubbers and some types of dampers, do not work well for the certain types of input earthquake wave, especially predominate in longer period, and for vertical direction. Active vibration control system has weak points in the costs and reliability of devices and power supply, but it might be used for partial control of very important things like computers, nuclear power generators and so on, or for control of weak vibration excited by winds. The existing problems to be solved are development of devices and precise estimation of input motions, but the former point may be expected to mechanical engineers. Architectural engineers will do duty as system designers, and use the developed devices for the suitable purpose. Various types of response control system will be used widely in future, not only for earthquake resistant design of structures but also for comfortable and ease feeling of the inhabitants.
View full abstract