Active tuned mass damper for a benchmark tall building using an energy-harvesting electromagnetic damper

Abstract

Among various structural vibration control categories, active control typically provides superior control performance. However, its high energy demand often limits its extensive implementation in large-scale civil structures. Very recently, electromagnetic dampers, which can convert kinetic energy into electrical energy, have emerged as a novel solution for active control with reduced or even zero energy consumption. This study explored the feasibility of an energy-harvesting active tuned mass damper (ATMD) by using an electromagnetic damper for simultaneous vibration suppression and energy harvesting. Numerical simulations were conducted for a full-scale, 76-story benchmark building equipped with the proposed design. The proposed ATMD outperforms the optimised passive counterpart of the same mass, as the former introduces an evident reduction in displacement responses. Furthermore, the proposed ATMD can offer a commensurate control performance to a passive damper with a weight three times heavier. The proposed ATMD also exhibits promising energy-harvesting performance, achieving an average output power at the kilowatt level. The results suggest that electromagnetic devices hold great potential for large-scale applications in civil structures, paving the way for a prosperous future in this field.