Experimental investigation of dynamic performance of a prototype hybrid tuned mass damper under human excitation

Abstract

Current sport stadia designs focus mainly on maximizing audience capacity and providing a clear view for all spectators. Hence, incorporation of one or more cantilevered tiers is typical in these designs. However, employing such cantilevered tiers, usually with relatively low damping and natural frequencies, can make grandstands more susceptible to excitation by human activities. This is caused by the coincidence between the activity frequencies (and their lowest three harmonics) and the structural natural frequencies hence raising the possibility of resonant vibration. This can be both a vibration serviceability and a safety issue.Past solutions to deal with observed or anticipated vibration serviceability problems have been mainly passive methods, such as tuned mass dampers (TMDs). These techniques have exhibited problems such as lack of performance and offtuning caused by human-structure interaction. To address this issue, research is currently underway to investigate the possible application of hybrid TMDs (HTMDs), which are a combination of active and passive control, to improve the vibration serviceability of such structures under human excitation.The work presented here shows a comparative experimental investigation of a passive TMD and a prototype HTMD applied on a slab strip structure. The most effective control algorithm to enhance the performance of the HTMD and also deal with the off-tuning problem is investigated. The laboratory structure used here is an in-situ cast simply-supported post-tensioned slab strip excited by forces from a range of human activities.

Passive, semi-active, active and hybrid mass dampers: A literature review with associated applications on building-like structures

“…Moreover, based on the time history analyses of a single-DOF with a TMD system, it was observed that for large damping of the structure, the TMD did not give much response reduction. The problem of the TMD off-tuning (detuning) is also reported in (Setareh (2002); Shih and Sung (2021); Noormohammadi and Reynolds (2013); Setareh et al (2007); Maślanka (2019)). Gutierrez Soto and Adeli (2013) mentioned that, a disadvantage of PTMDs is that they can only be tuned in one frequency which is subject to uncertainty or it could change during ground motions.…”

A leverage-type stiffness controllable mass damper for vibration mitigation of structures

“…HMDs represent a class of TMDs with an added active control device . Like many active control systems, the active force of an HMD is usually determined by the selected control law and online measurement of the system responses, excitations, or both; therefore, an HMD is capable of adding an optimal force to the controlled structure in real time for earthquakes with diverse characteristics.…”