Experimental Study on the Efficiency of Passive Auto-tuning Compound Pendulum Mass Damper

Abstract

A Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) is a device used to reduce the effects of dynamic responses of a structure during seismic action. In this study, a test model of a two-story steel structure was used to evaluate the efficiency of the Passive Auto-Tuning Compound Pendulum Mass Damper (PATCPMD). The PATCPMDs were suspended in the structure's top and lower stories and controlled by a group of flexible ropes that formed a compound pendulum, but it was not quite a compound pendulum and could move in any translational direction. The results showed that use of PATCPMD can provide significant control over the structure's translational, torsional, and coupled vibrations, with a maximum reduction in peak SSMS of 75 % for translational vibrations and up to 65 % for torsional vibrations when they are suspended in the first story. These values increased to 90 % for translational and 87 % for torsional vibrations when suspending in the second story. For forced vibrations, the maximum reductions in vibration control achieved were 68 % and 89 % if the damper was suspended in the first and second floor levels, respectively. Results showed that using PATCMD is more efficient when suspended on the second floor.