Multiple tuned mass damper control of vortex-induced vibration in bridges based on failure probability

Abstract

The multiple tuned mass damper (MTMD) is used instead of the single tuned mass damper (STMD) in this paper to improve the robustness in the mitigation of the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) in bridges. A framework of the parameter design of the MTMD mitigating the VIV is proposed based on a failure probability, which is derived as the objective function of the MTMD control by considering the uncertainties in bridge, aerodynamic, and MTMD parameters. Furthermore, a flowchart of the parameter optimization of the MTMD is presented by considering the failure probability and stroke limitation, simultaneously. At last, a numerical example of a box girder continuous bridge equipped with the optimized MTMD under the VIV is presented. Results show that the uncertainties in aerodynamic parameters characterizing the occurring condition and intensity of the VIV have great influence on the negative damping ratio induced by the VIV, while the uncertainties in natural frequencies of the bridge and MTMD have great influence on the equivalent damping ratio contributed by the MTMD. The superiority of the MTMD in the robustness will be lost if the intensity of the VIV is weak, but the MTMD is more robust than the STMD if the intensity of the VIV is modest or strong. The failure probability of the MTMD is 30 %∼50 % of that of the STMD when the total mass ratio is 0.6 %.