An investigation into the history and current practice in the field of active structural control

As the field of structural engineering advances to the twenty-first century it is being compelled towards some of the most remarkable innovations of any age. This metamorphosis requires a fundamental reconsideration of our concept of the structural strength and integrity of our buildings and other civil structures. These changes are preceded by the maturation of many different component fields including: materials, methods of control developed by the automotive and aerospace industries, basic research in wind, earthquake and other natural phenomena, maturation of the analytical tools of the structural engineering profession, and the development and use of computers as an engineering tools and a component in the actuation and maintenance of a structure.;Research in passive and active control of structures began about thirty years ago; today laboratory research has confirmed the adequacy of active structural controls to help counteract natural forces which can cause discomfort to occupants and destroy buildings. An area that requires investigation at this point is a way that this young technology can be allowed to show its capabilities and gain acceptance by our builders of tomorrow.