Dynamic characteristics of controlled MR-STMDs of Wolgograd Bridge

Abstract

This paper describes the dynamic characteristics of an adaptive tuned mass damper concept that is based on a real-time semi-actively controlled MR damper (MR-STMD) and is installed in the Wolgograd Bridge. The measurements and simulations of the prototype MR-STMD on the 15.6 m Empa bridge at different disturbing force levels demonstrate that the MR-STMD can cope with the nonlinear effect by which the resonance frequency and damping ratio of the Empa bridge depend on the amplitude and thereby on the excitation level. Whereas the efficiency of the MR-STMD is hardly affected by the aforementioned nonlinear effects, the passive TMD shows strong de-tuning. The tests for fast changes in frequency and amplitude of the disturbing force show that the response of the Empa bridge with the MR-STMD is smaller both during steady state and transient conditions than with a passive TMD, and the relative motion amplitudes in the MR-STMD are smaller or equal to those in the passive TMD. The force tracking accuracies of the prototype MR-STMD and of the Wolgograd MR-STMD are shown to be accurate, which generates precise frequency tuning of the MR-STMD in real-time and thereby explains the achievements described above. The test results indicate that the real-time controlled MR-STMD is an efficient and robust tool for the mitigation of structural vibrations.