Application of Semi-active Control Strategy for the Wall Retaining Granular Fills

The smart structures provide more efficient designs. In smart structures electronic components, sensors and actuators are well distributed and integrated, capable of controlling vibration for self-actuation and self-diagnostics. The purpose of structural control is to absorb, refract and reflect the energy induced by seismic wave propagation due to dynamic disturbances. This paper investigates semi-active control strategy for walls retaining granular material. It has two components, the seismic protection of retaining structure and the mitigation of wave induced vibration in retaining structure. An ideal semi-active motion equation of a retaining structure that consist of cantilever retaining wall with granular backfill bounded with a PZT patch was analyzed. The stress-strain analysis was performed by varying material properties and geometric configuration of the wall and granular fill. The stress- strain behavior of granular fill with PZT patch is presented in graphical form. A mathematical analysis is performed to examine the vibration induced effect of provision of PZT on in retaining structure due to the dynamic loading.