Ricerc@Sapienza

This paper investigates the potential of tuned mass dampers (TMDs) coupled with inerter devices in different tuned mass dampers inerter (TMDI) topologies to dissipate oscillations in tall buildings due to vortex shedding in the across wind direction while generating electric energy. The TMDI is first optimized for minimizing peak accelerations for serviceability purposes in a 74 storey benchmark steel building under different wind intensity levels.

The tuned mass-damper-inerter (TMDI) couples the classical tuned mass-damper (TMD) with an inerter device which develops a resisting force proportional to the relative acceleration of its ends by the “inertance” constant. Previous works demonstrated that the TMDI leads to efficient broadband vibration control for a range of different structures under different dynamic excitations.

This paper considers a novel shaking table testing campaign to assess the tuned mass-damper-inerter (TMDI) vibrations suppression attributes in harmonically excited structures under the combined effect of nonlinear structural response and nonlinear inerter device behavior deviating from the ideal linear inerter element developing acceleration-dependent force proportional to the inertance constant.

The paper illustrates a methodology to perform the optimal design of a Tuned Mass Damper Inerter (TMDI) equipped on a multi degree of freedom (MDOF) structure through a generalized model. The TMDI is considered in both configurations grounded and ungrounded. A generalized 2-DOF model is obtained: the primary oscillator, representing the original MDOF structure and the secondary oscillator, representing the control system. A Gaussian zero mean white noise random process is adopted for the excitation.