• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.57-72
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• 2010

This paper presents the most significant results obtained within a broad-ranging experimental program aiming to evaluate both the effectiveness and the robustness of a Base Isolation (BIS) and a Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) combined control strategy (BI & TMD). Following a brief description of the experimental model set-up and the adopted kinematic scaling technique, this paper describes the identification procedures carried out to characterize the system''s model. The dynamic response of a small-scale model to recorded earthquake excitations, which has been scaled by using the Buckingham pi-theorem, are later presented and discussed. Finally, the effectiveness and robustness of the combined control strategy is evaluated by comparing the model's dynamic response. In particular, reduction in relative displacements and absolute accelerations due to the application of different mass damping systems is investigated.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.549-560
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• 2022

The optimum damping and tuning frequency ratio of the tuned mass damper-inerter (TMDI) for the base-isolated structure is obtained using the numerical searching technique under stationary white-noise and filtered white-noise earthquake excitation. The minimization of the isolated structure's mean-square relative displacement and absolute acceleration, as well as the maximization of the energy dissipation index, were chosen as the criteria for optimality. Using a curve-fitting technique, explicit formulae for TMDI damping and tuning frequency for white-noise excitation are then derived. The proposed empirical expressions for TMDI parameters are found to have a negligible error, making them useful for the effective design of base-isolated structures. The effectiveness of TMDI and its optimum parameters are influenced by the soil condition and isolation frequency, according to the comparison made of the optimized parameters and response with different soil profiles. The effectiveness of an optimally designed TMDI in controlling the displacement and acceleration response of the flexible isolated structure under real and pulse-type earthquakes is also observed and found to be increased as the inertance mass ratio increases.

• Wind and Structures
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.201-251
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• 1999

Flexible structures may experience excessive levels of vibration under the action of wind, adversely affecting serviceability and occupant comfort. To ensure the functional performance of a structure, various design modifications are possible, ranging from alternative structural systems to the utilization of passive and active control devices. This paper presents an overview of state-of-the-art measures that reduce the structural response of buildings, including a summary of recent work in aerodynamic tailoring and a discussion of auxiliary damping devices for mitigating the wind-induced motion of structures. In addition, some discussion of the application of such devices to improve structural resistance to seismic events is also presented, concluding with detailed examples of the application of auxiliary damping devices in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.93-115
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• 2016

A particle tuned mass damper (PTMD) system is the combination of a traditional tuned mass damper (TMD) and a particle damper (PD). This paper presents the results of an experimental and analytical study of the damping performance of a PTMD attached to the top of a benchmark model under wind load excitation. The length ratio of the test model is 1:200. The vibration reduction laws of the system were explored by changing some system parameters (including the particle material, total auxiliary mass ratio, the mass ratio between container and particles, the suspending length, and wind velocity). An appropriate analytical solution based on the concept of an equivalent single-unit impact damper is presented. Comparison between the experimental and analytical results shows that, with the proper use of the equivalent method, reasonably accurate estimates of the dynamic response of a primary system under wind load excitation can be obtained. The experimental and simulation results show the robustness of the new damper and indicate that the damping performance can be improved by controlling the particle density, increasing the amount of particles, and aggravating the impact of particles etc.

• Wind and Structures
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.235-250
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• 2004

The current study reports the results of an experimental program conducted on a structure fitted with a liquid damper (TLD) and subjected to harmonic excitation. Screens were placed inside the TLD to achieve the required inherent damping. In the first part of the study, reduced scale models of the building-TLD systems were tested under two levels of excitation. The efficiency of the damper was assessed by evaluating the effective damping provided to the structure and comparing it to the optimum effective damping value, provided by a linear tuned mass damper (TMD). An extensive parametric study was then conducted for one of the three models by varying both the excitation amplitude and the tuning ratio, defined as the ratio of the TLD sloshing frequency to the natural frequency of the structure. The effectiveness and robustness of a TLD with screens were assessed. Results indicate that the TLD can be tuned to achieve a robust performance and that its efficiency is not significantly affected by the level of excitation. Finally, the equivalent amplitude dependent TMD model, developed in the companion paper is validated using the system test results.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.461-472
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• 2017

Explicit design formulae of liquid column vibration absorber (LCVA) for suppressing harmonic vibration of structures with small inherent structural damping are developed in this study. The developed design formulae are also applicable to the design of a tuned mass damper (TMD) and a tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) for damped structures under harmonic force excitation. The optimum parameters of LCVA for suppressing harmonic vibration of undamped structures are first derived. Numerical searching of the optimum parameters of tuned vibration absorber system for suppressing harmonic vibration of damped structure is conducted. Explicit formulae for these optimum parameters are then obtained by a series of curve fitting techniques. The analytical result shows that the control performance of TLCD for reducing harmonic vibration of undamped structure is always better than that of non-uniform LCVA for same mass and length ratios. As for the effects of structural damping on the optimum parameters, it is found that the optimum tuning ratio decreases and the optimum damping ratio increases as the structural damping is increased. Furthermore, the optimum head loss coefficient is inversely proportional to the amplitude of excitation force and increases as the structural damping is increased. Numerical verification of the developed explicit design expressions is also conducted and the developed expressions are demonstrated to be reasonably accurate for design purposes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제83권1호
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• pp.31-43
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• 2022

A nonlinear gas-spring tuned mass damper is proposed to mitigate the seismic responses of the multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) structure, in which the nine-story benchmark model is selected as the controlled object. The nonlinear mechanical properties of the gas-spring are investigated through theoretical analysis and experiments, and the damper's control parameters are designed. The control performance and damping mechanism of the proposed damper attached to the MDOF structure are systematically studied, and its reliability is also explored by parameter sensitivity analysis. The results illustrate that the nonlinear gas-spring TMD can transfer the primary structure's vibration energy from the lower to the higher modes, and consume energy through its own relative movement. The proposed damper has excellent "Reconciling Control Performance", which not only has a comparable control effect as the linear TMD, but also has certain advantages in working stroke. Furthermore, the control parameters of the gas-spring TMD can be determined according to the external excitation amplitude and the gas-spring's initial volume.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.227-240
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• 2000

The study of the optimal damping ratio of a tuned liquid-column damper (or TLCD) attached to a single-degree-of-freedom system is presented. The tuned liquid-column damper is composed of two vertical columns connected by a horizontal section in the bottom and partially filled with water. The ratio of the length of the horizontal section to the effective wetted length of a TLCD considered as another important parameter is also presented for investigation. A simple pendulum-like model test is conducted to simulate a long-period motion in order to prove the effectiveness of TLCD for vibrational control. Comparisons of the experimental and analytic results of the TLCD, TLD (tuned-liquid damper), and TMD (tuned-mass damper) are included for discussion.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제72권6호
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• pp.747-762
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• 2019

Based on the ball-screw mechanism, a tuned viscous mass damper (TVMD) has been proposed, which has functions of amplifying physical mass of the system and frequency tuning. Considering the sensitivity of a single TVMD's effectiveness to frequency mistuning like that of the conventional tuned mass damper (TMD) and according to the concept of the conventional multiple tuned mass damper (MTMD), in the present paper, multiple tuned mass viscous dampers (MTVMD) consisting of many tuned mass dampers (TVMD) with a uniform distribution of natural frequencies are considered for attenuating undesirable vibration of a structure. The MTVMD is manufactured by keeping the stiffness and damping constant and varying the mass associated with the lead of the ball-screw type inerter element in the damper. The structure is represented by its mode-generalized system in a specific vibration mode controlled using the mode reduced-order method. Modal properties and fundamental characteristics of the MTVMD-structure system are investigated analytically with the parameters, i.e., the frequency band, the average damping ratio, the tuning frequency ratio, the total number of TVMD and the total mass ratio. It is found that there exists an optimum set of the parameters that makes the frequency response curve of the structure flattened with smaller amplitudes in a wider input frequency range. The effectiveness and robustness of the MTVMD are also discussed in comparison with those of the usual single TVMD (STVMD) and the results shows that the MTVMD is more effective and robust with the same level of total mass.

• Wind and Structures
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.107-131
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• 2016

The need for a more affordable, reliable, clean and secure energy has led to explorations in non-traditional sources, particularly renewable energies. Wind is one of the cleanest energy sources that plays a significant role in augmenting sustainability. Wind turbines, as energy convertors, are usually tall and slender structures, and depending on their location (inland or offshore), they can be subject to high wind and/or strong wave loadings. These loads can cause severe vibrations with detrimental effects on energy production, structural lifecycle and initial cost. A dissipativity analysis study was carried out to know whether wind turbine towers require damping enhancement or rigidity modifications for vibration suppression. The results suggest that wind turbines are lightly damped structures and damping enhancement is a potential solution for vibration lessening. Accordingly, the paper investigates different damping enhancement techniques for vibration mitigation. The efficacy of tuned mass damper (TMD), tuned liquid column damper (TLCD), tuned sloshing damper (TSD), and viscous damper (VD) to reduce vibrations is investigated. A comparison among these devices, in terms of robustness and effectiveness, is conducted. The VD can reduce both displacement and acceleration responses of the tower, better than other types of dampers, for the same control effort, followed by TMD, TSD, and finally TLCD. Nevertheless, the use of VDs raises concerns about where they should be located in the structure, and their application may require additional design considerations.