Vibration Control and Dynamics in High-Speed Elevator Systems

High-speed elevator systems present a complex vibrational environment arising from guide-rail irregularities, aerodynamic forces in the hoistway, traction machinery dynamics and structural flexibility. Precise dynamic modelling is essential to predict natural frequencies, mode shapes and forced responses under normal operation and emergency braking. Techniques range from multi‐degree‐of‐freedom models using energy methods or finite-element analysis to reduced‐order representations for real-time control. Vibration control strategies are broadly classified as passive, active and semi-active. Passive measures employ tuned mass dampers or optimised structural stiffness and damping. Active approaches use sensors, actuators and real-time control algorithms to counteract disturbance forces, whereas semi-active systems—particularly those using magnetorheological dampers integrated into guide shoes—adapt damping characteristics in response to instantaneous loads. Multi-objective optimisation techniques, such as genetic algorithms or particle swarm methods, are widely adopted to balance ride comfort, safety, energy consumption and mechanical wear. Recent advances integrate artificial-intelligence-based controllers capable of learning from operational data to suppress lateral and vertical vibrations more effectively. Validation through prototype testing and full-scale experiments ensures that design-level predictions align with in-service performance. The resulting improvements in comfort, safety and operational efficiency have global significance for ultra-tall buildings, rapid transit systems and next-generation rope-less elevator architectures.

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A novel fuzzy-neural control framework has been developed for semi-active guide shoes fitted with magnetorheological dampers. A backpropagation-trained fuzzy neural network governs the input current to the damper, while a secondary network adjusts its variable universe contraction-expansion factors. Optimisation via a firefly-algorithm improves convergence of controller parameters. Experimental and simulation tests demonstrate significant reductions in horizontal vibration acceleration and tilt-angle fluctuations compared with conventional passive systems.

An alternative approach focuses on design-parameter optimisation of high-speed elevator horizontal vibrations. A dynamic response model is established and solved using a precise integration method. Latin hypercube sampling constructs a response surface of peak-to-peak acceleration, which is then minimised through a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Application to a commercial high-speed prototype confirms reductions in lateral acceleration peaks and validates the optimisation methodology through prototype testing.

Advanced modelling of multi–direction coupling properties has been realised with an energy-based vibration model. By combining kinetic, elastic and virtual work formulations, the model captures interactions among longitudinal, transverse and vertical axes. Solutions are obtained via a Gaussian precise integration scheme. Comparative studies against conventional differential-equation models and prototype measurements reveal prediction errors below 5 %, underscoring the model’s precision for design and control applications.

Vibration Control and Dynamics in High-Speed Elevator Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in vibration control and dynamics in high-speed elevator systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Natural frequency: Fundamental oscillation rate of a system in the absence of external forcing.

Resonance: Condition where excitation frequency matches a natural frequency, leading to amplified response.

Damping ratio: Dimensionless measure of energy dissipation per oscillation cycle.

Magnetorheological damper: Semi-active device whose fluid viscosity is altered by a magnetic field to vary damping force in real time.

Multi‐degree‐of‐freedom (MDOF) model: Mathematical representation of a structure with multiple independent vibrational coordinates.

References

1. Variable Universe Fuzzy Control of High-Speed Elevator Horizontal Vibration Based on Firefly Algorithm and Backpropagation Fuzzy Neural Network. IEEE Access (2021).
2. A Vibration‐Related Design Parameter Optimization Method for High‐Speed Elevator Horizontal Vibration Reduction. Shock and Vibration (2020).
3. Energy-Based Vibration Modeling and Solution of High-Speed Elevators Considering the Multi-Direction Coupling Property. Energies (2020).