Experimental verification of seismic vibration control using a semi‐active friction tuned mass damper

A tuned mass damper (TMD) system consists of an added mass with properly functioning spring and damping elements for providing frequency‐dependent damping in a primary structure. The advantage of a friction‐type TMD, that is, a nonlinear TMD, is its energy dissipation via a friction mechanism. In contrast, the disadvantages of a passive friction TMD (PF‐TMD) are its fixed and predetermined slip load and loss of tuning and energy dissipation capabilities when it is in a stick state. A semi‐active friction TMD (SAF‐TMD) is used to overcome these disadvantages. The SAF‐TMD can adjust its slip force in response to structure motion. To verify its feasibility, a prototype SAF‐TMD was fabricated and tested dynamically using a shaking table test. A nonsticking friction control law was used to keep the SAF‐TMD activated and in a slip state in earthquakes at varying intensities. The shaking table test results demonstrated that: (i) the experimental results are consistent with the theoretical results; (ii) the SAF‐TMD is more effective than the PF‐TMD given a similar peak TMD stroke; and (iii) the SAF‐TMD can also prevent a residual TMD stroke in a PF‐TMD system. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study on effects of damping in laminated rubber bearings on seismic responses for a ⅛ scale isolated test structure

The effects of damping in various laminated rubber bearings (LRB) on the seismic response of a ?‐scale isolated test structure are investigated by shaking table tests and seismic response analyses. A series of shaking table tests of the structure were performed for a fixed base design and for a base isolation design. Two different types of LRB were used: natural rubber bearings (NRB) and lead rubber bearings (LLRB). Three different designs for the LLRB were tested; each design had a different diameter of lead plug, and thus, different damping values. Artificial time histories of peak ground acceleration 0.4g were used in both the tests and the analyses. In both shaking table tests and analyses, as expected, the acceleration responses of the seismically isolated test structure were considerably reduced. However, the shear displacement at the isolators was increased. To reduce the shear displacement in the isolators, the diameter of the lead plug in the LLRB had to be enlarged to increase isolator damping by more than 24%. This caused the isolator stiffness to increase, and resulted in amplifying the floor acceleration response spectra of the isolated test structure in the higher frequency ranges with a monotonic reduction of isolator shear displacement. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.