Application of Tuned Liquid Damper for Controlling Structural Vibration

Abstract

Current trends in construction industry demands taller and lighter structures, which are also more flexible and having quite low damping value. This increases failure possibilities and also, problems from serviceability point of view. Several techniques are available today to minimize the vibration of the structure, out of which concept of using of TLD is a newer one. This study was made to study the effectiveness of using TLD for controlling vibration of structure. A numerical algorithm was developed to investigate the response of the frame model, fitted with a TLD. A linear TLD model was considered. A total of six loading conditions were applied at the base of the structure. First one was a sinusoidal loading corresponding to the resonance condition with the fundamental frequency of the structure, second one was corresponding to compatible time history as per spectra of IS-1894 (Part -1):2002 for 5% damping at rocky soil and rest four were corresponding to time histories of past earthquake such as 1940 El Centro Earthquake record (PGA = 0.313g), 1994 North Ridge Loading (PGA = 1.78g), 1971 Sanfernando Earthquake (PGA = 1.23g), 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake (PGA = 0.59g). A ten storey and two bay structure was considered for the study. The effectiveness of the TLD was calculated in terms of amplitude of displacements at top storey of the structure.

From the study it was found that, TLD can effectively used to control the vibration of the structure. TLD was more effective when it is placed at the top storey of the structure. Only TLD which were properly tuned to natural frequency of structure was more effective in controlling the vibration. The damping effect of TLD is sharply decreases with mistuning of TLD.