Numerical flow models to simulate tuned liquid dampers (TLD) with slat screens

Abstract

The tuned liquid damper (TLD) is increasingly being used as an economical and effective dynamic vibration absorber to mitigate the dynamic response of structures. In this paper the results of two numerical flow models of TLD behaviour are compared with experimental data. These include the free surface motion, the resulting base shear forces, and the energy dissipated by a TLD with slat screens. The importance of this experimental study is that it examines TLD behaviour over a large range of normalized excitation amplitude values, covering the practical range of serviceability accelerations for buildings subjected to wind loads and larger excitation amplitudes more representative of earthquake motion. In addition, the experimental results are used to assess the models for larger fluid depth to tank length values, and for the use of modelling TLDs equipped with multiple screens. For screens consisting of a number of thin plate slats, a method for determining the loss coefficient is presented, which is a required parameter for the models used in this paper. Findings indicate that the linear model is capable of providing an initial estimate of the energy dissipating characteristics of a TLD. The nonlinear model can accurately describe the response characteristics within the range of excitation amplitudes experimentally tested.