Vibration control effectiveness of passive tuned mass dampers

Abstract

Abstract This paper investigates the effectiveness of a passive Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) in reducing the primary structural responses under stochastic environmental loadings. Extensive parametric studies are performed to examine the influence of the variation of fundamental frequency and frequency bandwidth of the input excitation on the structural responses with and without installation of TMD. It is concluded that the passive TMD is a useful vibration control device and is more appropriate to a structure which fundamental frequency is less than that of input excitation. Design charts and equations to determine the optimum values of mass, damping, and stiffness for a passive TMD are illustrated. This optimum TMD can reduce both earthquake‐ and wind‐induced structural responses and is thus recommended for all design purposes. In addition, this paper shows passive TMDs are more effective to diminish the vibrations induced by wind than earthquake.