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. It is seen that TMDI stiffness and damping optimal parameters are robust to design/reference wind velocity and, therefore, to potential climate change effects, while achieving same level of performance using significantly smaller attached mass compared to the classical TMD. Then, a regenerative electromagnetic motor (EM) is added to the TMDI allowing for varying the TMDI damping property as well as transforming part of the dissipated kinetic energy to electricity. It is shown that by increasing TMDI damping above the optimal value for vibration suppression and/or by reducing the inerter property increases the available energy for harvesting at the expense of larger floor accelerations. Therefore, it is concluded that by relaxing serviceability limit state requirements associated with occupancy considerations renders possible an increase in energy generation in wind-excited tall buildings