Vibration Control Of Structures Research Articles

Nonlinear dynamical modeling and response analysis of complex structures based on assumed mode weighting

The assumed mode method (AMM) is widely used for dynamical modeling but faces increasing challenges in developing low-dimensional and high-precision models of complex structures for investigations of nonlinear dynamical responses and active vibration control. This is mainly because the current complex structure has an increasing number of components, each of which needs to be discretized by multiple assumed modes in dynamical modeling, leading to increasing degrees of freedom for the system. To address this issue, this paper proposes a dimension-reduced method based on the assumed mode weighting method, referred to as Mode Weighting Method (MWM). The modeling process of a multi-beam structure is fully presented as an example to show the strategy of the MWM. During this process, the assumed mode (AM) model (the dynamic model derived in terms of a set of assumed modes) is developed first where the joints of the structure between its components are considered as artificial springs and each component is discretized by its vibration modes without constraints. The components of the eigenvector of the characteristic equation derived from the AM model are taken as the weighting coefficients to get the approximate analytical global modes of the structure by multiplying the corresponding assumed modes. Consequently, a nonlinear dynamic model with a few degree of freedom is obtained by discretizing the structure with the weighted modes. Moreover, a technique for simply obtaining the weighted mode (WM) models by directly processing the AM model through a transformation matrix is presented. To validate the proposed method, the simulations on the natural characteristics and the dynamical responses for both linear and nonlinear models, are performed respectively based on the WM and the finite element models, where both results are well matched each other. This work provides a new way of developing advanced dynamical modeling methods for structural dynamics design, optimization, and active vibration control.

Overturning resistant capacities of rocking frames with supplemental vibration control devices under pulse-type excitations

Rocking structures are vulnerable to overturn under earthquake shaking. It is necessary to reduce the overturning probability of rocking structures. Recently, inerters were proposed to control the vibrations of rocking columns, and it was found that the structure equipped with inerter has reduced probability of overturning. However, inerter does not have capacity to dissipate energy, its control performance is believed able to be enhanced once being used in conjunction with dampers. Therefore, this paper approaches rocking structural vibration control from two directions: by applying supplemental inertia and applying supplemental damping to the structure. To this end, inerter, clutched-inerter and viscous damper are selected as control devices, and two combined scenarios are also considered, with configuration Ⅰ consisting of an inerter and a viscous damper in parallel and configuration Ⅱ consisting of a clutched-inerter and a viscous damper in parallel. The analytical models of a rocking frame with supplemental control devices in variable positions are presented and the equations of motion for each model are derived. In addition, the maximum coefficient of restitution of the rocking frame with supplemental control device is derived based on the angular momentum-impulse theorem. The effects and applicable conditions of the considered devices are evaluated by means of assessing the overturning resistances, maximum responses and fragility curves of rocking frames under different conditions. The results show that, with appropriate damping coefficient and apparent mass of the inerter, the combined configurations Ⅰ and Ⅱ provide better control effectiveness than the cases with inerter, clutched-inerter or viscous damper applied individually.

Reliability assessment and electromagnetic controller for semi-active impact damper in structural vibration control

This study proposes a semi-active controller for impact dampers to address the challenge of achieving ideal impacts that occur exclusively when the structure reaches to its equilibrium position. The control effectiveness and reliability of the semi-active impact damper (SAID) both over time and with parameter variations are assessed and compared with passive impact dampers. Furthermore, the performance of SAID under deviations from the ideal control strategy is investigated, considering three types of non-ideal impact time and friction effects. The mathematical solution for the ideal control strategy is derived, and a strong positive correlation is found between control efficiency and SAID parameters through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. The corresponding suggestions are provided for addressing parameter variations and deviations from ideal control strategy of SAID. Based on the investigation of extended impact conditions, a feasible SAID controller configuration with adjustable gap clearance is proposed, effectively addressing time lag issues. Experimental results validate the numerical method and practical implementation of the proposed electromagnetic controller for SAID, which can efficiently control structural responses under random low-frequency excitations such as earthquakes.

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

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.

H∞ closed-form solution of tuned mass damper enhanced with negative stiffness element (TMD-NS) for structural vibration control

Negative stiffness element has been applied to improve the control performance of tuned mass dampers (TMDs) recently, and two tuned mass dampers enhanced with negative stiffness (TMD-NS) element, namely KDamper (Without loss of generality, it is referred to as TMD-NS I in the present study) and Extended KDamper (EKD, TMD-NS II), have been developed. Previous studies have demonstrated the control effectiveness of TMD-NS I and II. However, there still exist some issues to be addressed: (1) previous studies normally optimize TMD-NS via the intricate and time-consuming numerical methods, the analytical solutions for the optimal design parameters of TMD-NS II remain unknown; (2) a comprehensive and exhaustive evaluation that compares the control effectiveness of TMD-NS I and II is absent from existing literature. To fill these research gaps, this study derives closed-form optimum solutions for TMD-NS II using the H∞ approach. The control effectiveness of TMD-NS I and II in suppressing the seismic responses of structures is investigated systematically. Specifically, the analytical model of an undamped SDOF system equipped with TMD-NS I or II is first developed within a unified framework, and corresponding dynamic equations of motion are formulated. Subsequently, the optimal parameters of TMD-NS I and II are derived based on the classical “fixed-point” theory. Based on the derived optimal parameters, the control effectiveness of TMD-NS I and II are examined by using a damped SDOF system subjected to harmonic excitations and real earthquake ground motions. Finally, a 5-storey isolated benchmark building model is adopted to further investigate the effectiveness of TMD-NS in the seismic protection of engineering structures. The results reveal that the derived closed-form solutions are accurate in capturing the optimal parameters of TMD-NS. In addition, both the optimized TMD-NS I and II outperform the conventional TMD in reducing the seismic responses of structures. Furthermore, TMD-NS I proves more effective in reducing the absolute acceleration of the isolated building, whereas TMD-NS II demonstrates better performance in mitigating the isolating deformation. In a nutshell, both the TMD-NS I and II are highly effective alternatives to conventional TMDs, showcasing superior performance in vibration reduction and robustness.

Viscoelastic Dampers for Vibration Control of Building Structures: A State-of-Art Review

ABSTRACT Due to its high effectiveness and low cost, viscoelastic damper (VED) is a commonly used type of passive energy dissipation device to reduce structural vibrations and responses against earthquakes and strong winds. Over the past decades, scholars have developed new types of VEDs to be installed at different structural locations. These VEDs offer better post-disaster recoverability and smarter behaviors for structures. Nonetheless, existing efforts of various VEDs and the technologies supporting VEDs were seldomly summarized. This article presents a critical state-of-art review of the existing research on VEDs, hybrid VED devices, and the design methods for structures installed with VEDs. First, the VEDs are classified based on the design locations in building structures, including VEDs used as coupling beams and damping walls, installed in braces and beam-column joints, and used to connect parallel structures. In addition to these classic VEDs, the study presents the high-performance VEDs and the corresponding techniques, such as the combined usage with other materials and/or devices. Furthermore, as an important contribution to the presented work, various design methods for structures enhanced by VEDs were systematically summarized. These methods considered different evaluation parameters aiming at different design targets. Finally, this article identifies and highlights research challenges in the existing studies. Possible improvements that could be made in the future were also provided.

Experimental study and multi‐scale refinement model of high damping acrylic polymer matrix VEDs for civil structural seismic retrofit

AbstractThe viscoelastic dampers (VEDs), which can provide both stiffness and damping, have been recently introduced into the field of structural vibration control for seismic enhancement of civil engineering structures. In this study, a kind of high damping acrylic polymer matrix VEDs (HDPVED) is developed independently, and this innovative HDPVED can solve the significant problem of service performance under medium‐high temperature environments, as well as low‐frequency vibration control under earthquake actions for civil engineering structures. To systematically investigate the influencing rules of frequency, temperature, and displacement amplitude on the mechanical properties and damping dissipation performance of HDPVEDs, a series of dynamic mechanical performance tests of the developed HDPVEDs are carried out at different frequencies, temperatures, and displacement amplitudes. The research results show that HDPVED exhibits excellent damping dissipation capability and adaptability under medium‐high temperature environments and low‐frequency excitations. The mechanical properties and energy dissipation performance present a strong correlation with frequency, temperature and displacement amplitude, and there is an obvious coupling effect between the three influencing factors. Based on the macroscopic mechanical property research of HDPVED, the microscopic damping mechanism and microscopic mechanical properties of HDPVED are then investigated. High‐order fractional derivative fraction Voigt and Maxwell model in parallel (FVMP) models are preferred to characterize the combined hyper‐elasticity and viscoelasticity owned by networked molecular chains and free molecular chains. The breaking and reconstruction theory of microphysical bonds is used to assess the effect of packing particles, and the time‐temperature equivalence principle is introduced to assess the effect of temperature. The multi‐scale refinement model is proposed, and the validity and accuracy of this model are verified by testing data of HDPVED. The study results show that the proposed model can accurately describe the effects of frequency, temperature, displacement amplitude, and microstructure on the multi‐scale mechanical properties of HDPVED. It provides a theoretical basis for the multi‐scale design and development of high damping VEDs.

Bidirectional active vibration control of two-dimensional structure inspired by automotive engine mounting system

Bidirectional active vibration control of two-dimensional structure inspired by automotive engine mounting system

Continuous control of structural vibrations using hybrid deep reinforcement learning policy

An efficient active structural control scheme by utilizing the collective concepts of data-driven and physics-inspired reinforcement learning (RL) approaches is being introduced here. The controller is designed to deliver optimal feedback forces based on the full-state information, wherein the training process involves the use of deep neural networks (NNs) and a specially designed gradient descent-based sequence within the RL framework. This integration of algorithms results in a unique active control policy that accelerates the learning process, thereby demands considerably less computational resources to develop an optimal and stable controller as compared to existing data-driven approaches. Most importantly, the mentioned data-driven and physics-inspired approaches encompass deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) and an iterative gradient-based state feedback control (SFSC) algorithms, respectively, to establish the architecture of the hybrid control policy, referred to as hybrid RL-controller. Additional advantage of the hybrid RL-controller is its ability to operate in continuous state–action spaces, which allows the designed controller to address diverse structural control problems. The staggered performance of the hybrid RL-controller, both in continuous and discrete time, is evaluated in three case studies that involve structures in linear and nonlinear regimes. The outcomes include a detailed comparison of the hybrid RL-controller with the individually designed DDPG and SFSC RL control strategies, as well as the uncontrolled scenario. Furthermore, this study thoroughly investigates the real-life implementation concerns of control strategies, such as perturbations in model parameters and input forces, and time delays in the feedback loop. Finally, the results from this study corroborate that the designed RL-controller showcases superior performance and faster execution time in the feedback loop, making it suitable for the vibration control of multidimensional complex structures.

A Novel Approach for Vibration Control of Base-Isolated Structures Under Seismic Load Using a Tuned Mass Damper-Clutching Inerter

A Novel Approach for Vibration Control of Base-Isolated Structures Under Seismic Load Using a Tuned Mass Damper-Clutching Inerter

Experimental Testing on Tuned Liquid Dampers for Implementation in Industrial Chimneys.

A TLD is a passive damping device that works by dissipating energy through the sloshing of the liquid and the effect of wave breaking, thereby controlling the vibrations of the structure. One of the applications where TLDs are of great interest is in the case of industrial chimneys since these structures often have a very low natural frequency, which can be easily achieved in a control device of this type. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the behaviour of an annular TLD composed of multiple cells through laboratory tests and investigate if it is adequate to design it as an agglomeration of smaller rectangular TLDs. The influence of the amplitude of displacement on the behaviour of the annular TLD will also be analysed. The tests were performed on a shaking table and recurring with pendulums of the same length but of different masses. Three reservoirs were studied as TLDs: a rectangular one, a cell of an annular TLD and a quarter-ring of an annular TLD. This study concluded that the analytical methods developed in previous studies were, in general, adequate for the design of a rectangular TLD and that it was reasonable to design the annular TLD studied as a combination of rectangular ones, as its cells were a close match to a rectangle of similar dimensions. It was also concluded that a compartmentalised annular TLD is an adequate solution for the vibration control of structures with high displacements.

Enhancing Structural Vibration Damping in Marine Machinery: A Comprehensive Numerical Investigation with Modal and Harmonic Analysis

This article presents a comprehensive study on the damping of vibrations in a motor-pump assembly using viscoelastic and constrained layer damping treatments. The assembly's structural model, designed using SolidWorks software, is subjected to modal and harmonic analyses in ANSYS. The primary goal is to mitigate vibration amplitudes originating from the motor and pump to enhance the assembly's operational performance. Three damping treatments are investigated: Free Layer Damping (FLD), Sandwich Constrained Layer Damping (CLD), and a novel Multilayer CLD approach. The viscoelastic material is modeled using the Prony series method, and its properties are incorporated into the finite element analysis Results demonstrate that the application of damping treatments significantly reduces vibration amplitudes compared to the untreated structure. Among the treatments, the Multilayer CLD approach exhibits the highest damping efficiency, reducing the maximum amplitude by approximately 52% compared to the base structure. The study showcases the advantages of utilizing viscoelastic and constrained layer damping techniques for enhancing vibration control and operational stability in industrial assemblies. The research findings contribute to the field of structural dynamics and vibration control, offering valuable insights into the design and optimization of mechanical systems subjected to dynamic loads. This study opens avenues for further research and practical applications aimed at improving the performance and reliability of motor-pump assemblies and similar industrial equipment.

Correction: Hybrid Vibration Control of Tall Tubular Structures via Combining Base Isolation and Mass Damper Systems Optimized by Enhanced Special Relativity Search Algorithm

Correction: Hybrid Vibration Control of Tall Tubular Structures via Combining Base Isolation and Mass Damper Systems Optimized by Enhanced Special Relativity Search Algorithm

Multiple Sloped Wall Tuned Liquid Dampers for Vibration Control of Structure Excited by Near and Far-Fault Earthquakes

Multiple Sloped Wall Tuned Liquid Dampers for Vibration Control of Structure Excited by Near and Far-Fault Earthquakes

Aperiodic Two-Dimensional Acoustic Black Holes for Broadband Vibration Attenuation in a Strip

Abstract Purpose Acoustic black holes (ABHs) are promising for vibration control in lightweight structures as proven for one- or two-dimensional periodic arrangements. Here, we explored the effects of spatial disorder and heterogeneous designs of ABHs to broaden an intrinsically limited attenuation bandwidth of periodic counterparts. Method We proposed several strategies to introduce non-periodic arrangements and/or different ABH profiles by solving a maximization problem for the attenuation bandwidth of a plate strip decorated by five ABHs. These strategies allow for finding appropriate dimensions and positions of the ABHs by analyzing a small design subset and are verified experimentally. Results The identified periodic heterogeneous ABHs enable greatly extending the attenuation bandwidth, while disordered identical ABHs allow for increasing the attenuation intensity as compared to the corresponding periodic configurations. The mechanisms underlying the wave attenuation enhancement were clarified by tracing the evolution of the wave transmission and structural vibration modes at each design step. We have found that the broadened wave attenuation attributes to the activation of strongly localized modes at broadband frequencies in aperiodic scenarios. These abundant modes are multi-frequency local resonances in ABHs that are sensitive to both the ABH profile and their spatial arrangement. Conclusion We prove that relaxing the periodicity requirement on multiple two-dimensional ABHs can extend the vibration attenuation to broadband regimes below the ABH characteristic frequency, numerically and experimentally. Aperiodic designs of ABHs thus enlarge the design space by enabling a broadband wave mitigation with attenuation intensity comparable to that of periodic counterparts without increasing the structural mass.

The retuner : A low energy and slow timescale control device for the re-tuning of a suboptimal tuned mass damper

Tuned mass dampers (TMDs) have been widely studied and used for mitigating the structural vibrations induced by environmental loads such as wind, earthquakes, and traffic. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of TMDs can be compromised when confronted with uncertainties coming from either structural parameters or environmental loads. Such deviations from the optimal tuning configuration can substantially impact their mitigation efficacy. The retuner, a new concept in the field of structural dynamics, is an additional mass–spring system that can be incorporated in series with the TMD to reduce its sensitivity to mistuning. Remarkably, in the presence of mistuning, the judicious adjustment of retuner parameters enables an interaction with TMD parameters, thereby restoring the TMD’s original performance. Exploiting an eigenvalue-based approach, the design of the retuner system is made simple and guided by analytical criteria, offering ease of implementation and broad applicability. Being a simple addition to a well-known system, the retuner is an efficient and low-cost alternative solution for structural vibration control.

Fluid inerter-based vibration control of multi-modal structures subjected to vertical vibration

The so-called inerter is an attracting device that offers a solution to the goal of realizing or improving structural control devices with high mass ratios while avoiding the undesirable increase in dead load. The research presented here focuses on evaluating the performance of a fluid inerter in mitigating vertical vibrations of structures that exhibit multi-modal behavior, such as plates. First, a numerical study based on previous experimental data investigates the properties of the connection between the inerter and the structure to be controlled. Considering that a flexible connection has been shown to introduce a linearization effect, while a rigid connection of the inerter to the controlled structure can achieve significant displacement reductions, the influence of these two connection types over different inertance ratios is analyzed. To evaluate the practical suitability of the flexible connection to reduce the inherent nonlinear effects associated with the device, a novel application of the fluid inerter for vibration control in multi-modal structures is presented, exemplified by a cross-laminated timber panel, and compares its control performance with that of a conventional Tuned Mass Damper (TMD). This provides insight into the effectiveness of the inerter in controlling vertical vibrations. In addition, optimization procedures are employed to determine connection parameters that enhance the effectiveness of both the TMD and the inerter in mitigating vertical vibrations.

Linear parameter-varying output-feedback for active vibration control of an elastic kinetic roof structure with experimental validation

Elastic kinetics are an approach to design transformable lightweight structures with a stable transformation process. The transformation is realized through elastic bending of structural members by exploiting the compliant material behavior. This lightweight and flexible design comes at the cost of increased sensitivity to static and dynamic disturbances. However, most of the current research focuses on the principles of elastic kinetic transformation instead of effective disturbance mitigation. This work focuses on dynamic disturbance mitigation for such transformable lightweight structures using active control. Modeling and controller synthesis are performed in the linear parameter-varying (LPV) framework, since the dynamics of elastic kinetic structures are transformation-state dependent due to geometric nonlinearities. Based on an LPV model in a grid-based representation, an LPV output-feedback control can be designed and synthesized via a gridding approach. This methodology is experimentally tested and validated for the example of an active hybrid roof structure prototype.

Testing, Modelling, and Performance Evaluation of a Rotary Eddy-Current Damper with Inherent Nonlinear Damping Characteristics for Structural Vibration Control

This paper investigates the inherent nonlinear damping characteristics of a rotary eddy-current damper (RECD) and evaluates its vibration control performance on a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system subjected to harmonic and seismic excitations. First, a RECD prototype was manufactured to experimentally identify its intrinsic nonlinear eddy-current damping characteristics. A magic formula model is then proposed to characterize the relationship between the eddy-current damping force and the velocity of the RECD, and its applicability in depicting the nonlinear damping characteristics of the RECD is evaluated by comparing with the electromagnetic finite-element (FE) model and the commonly used Wouterse’s model. Moreover, by comparing the experimental and analytical frequency–domain responses of an SDOF structure equipped with a RECD, the applicability of the magic formula model in evaluating the structural vibration control performance of the RECD is further verified. Finally, the control performance of the RECD for an SDOF structure subjected to earthquake ground motions is numerically evaluated and compared. Results show that the eddy-current damping force of the RECD presents obvious nonlinear characteristics with increasing velocity, and the proposed magic formula model can adequately depict the nonlinear eddy-current damping characteristics of the RECD. Moreover, the RECD exhibits superior structural control performance under harmonic and seismic excitations.

Low-frequency vibration reduction of an underwater metamaterial plate excited by a turbulent boundary layer

Flow-induced structural noise is an important component of hydrodynamic noise of underwater structures. Local resonance metamaterials are considered to have excellent performance and enormous potential in the field of low-frequency vibration and noise control. To verify its potential, the paper derived the underwater band gap of a lateral local resonance (LLR) plate through the plane wave expansion (PWE). Then, utilizing the modal superposition approach and Rayleigh integral technique, the vibro-acoustic response of a LLR plate under a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) excitation is obtained. Finite element certification is also conducted through an uncorrelated wall plane wave technique. Parametric study is conducted to analyse the factors which influence the control effects. The result shows that the plate exhibits excellent suppression performance for flow-induced vibration at band gap frequencies. The band gaps and suppression ranges generated by the underwater metamaterial plate, are dramatically narrowed due to the thick fluid load. The paper provides theoretical guidance for the control of flow-induced structural vibration and the application of acoustic metamaterials.