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This paper investigates the application of tuned mass damper (TMD) systems to bridge pier systems for structural impact damage mitigation and thus reduce the risk of collapses. A bridge superstructure and substructures are designed in accordance with The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) specifications. A variety of vessel collision forces are obtained from collision testing of a scaled reinforced concrete pier. The optimal parameters of TMD systems are then determined such that the drift and displacement of the bridge superstructure are minimized for various impact scenarios. The structural impact mitigation performance of the pier equipped with the proposed optimal TMD system is compared with five different TMD systems employing the benchmark TMD optimal parameters. The uncontrolled responses are used as a baseline. It was demonstrated from the extensive simulations that the control effectiveness of the proposed TMD system was 25% better than all of the existing TMD models in reducing structure responses.

The purpose of this research is to establish the effectiveness of tuned-mass-dampers (TMD) using semi-active magneto-rheological (MR) dampers to mitigate annoying floor vibrations. Annoying floor vibration is becoming more common in today's building structures since building materials have become stronger and lighter; the advent of computers has resulted in "paperless" offices; and the use of floors for rhythmic activities, such as aerobics and concerts, is more common. Analytical and experimental studies were conducted to provide an understanding of the effects of incorporating the semi-active-TMD as a remedy to annoying floor vibration. A pendulum tuned mass damper (PTMD) in which the tuning parameters could independently be varied was used. Closed form solutions for the response of the floor using passive dampers were developed. In addition, a numerical integration technique was used to solve the equations of motion where semi-active dampers are utilized. The optimum design parameters of PTMDs using passive and semi-active dampers were found using an optimization routine. Performances of the PTMD in reducing the floor vibration level at the optimum and when subjected to off-tuning of design parameters using passive and semi-active dampers were compared. To validate the results obtained in the analytical investigation, an experimental study was conducted using an 8 ft x 30 ft laboratory floor and a commercial PTMD. Comparative studies of the effectiveness of the PTMD in reducing floor vibrations using semi-active and passive dampers were conducted. / Master of Science

Esta dissertação propõe uma solução padronizada de aplicação de Tuned-Mass Damper (TMD) para controle de vibrações em lajes baseada na análise das características de carregamentos associados à utilização humana e nas características estruturais mais comuns à engenharia contemporânea. De modo a simplificar sua aplicação técnica, a sintonização é proposta por meio da escolha de componentes pré-determinados para a montagem do TMD e pela distribuição e posicionamento dos mecanismos. A eficácia do sistema é então verificada em um estudo de caso, usando um modelo de elementos finitos de uma laje, antes e depois da aplicação dos mecanismos. / This thesis proposes a standardized solution for the application of Tuned-Mass Dampers to the control of floor vibrations based on the characteristics of the acting loads associated to human usage and the characteristics of the most common structures of the contemporary engineering practice. In order to simplify its usage by the technical community, the tuning is proposed through the selection of pre-determined components for the assembly of the TMD and the choice of disposition and spacing of the mechanisms. The system efficacy is then verified in a computational case study, by means of a finite-element model of a floor, before and after the application of the mechanisms.

Esta dissertação propõe uma solução padronizada de aplicação de Tuned-Mass Damper (TMD) para controle de vibrações em lajes baseada na análise das características de carregamentos associados à utilização humana e nas características estruturais mais comuns à engenharia contemporânea. De modo a simplificar sua aplicação técnica, a sintonização é proposta por meio da escolha de componentes pré-determinados para a montagem do TMD e pela distribuição e posicionamento dos mecanismos. A eficácia do sistema é então verificada em um estudo de caso, usando um modelo de elementos finitos de uma laje, antes e depois da aplicação dos mecanismos. / This thesis proposes a standardized solution for the application of Tuned-Mass Dampers to the control of floor vibrations based on the characteristics of the acting loads associated to human usage and the characteristics of the most common structures of the contemporary engineering practice. In order to simplify its usage by the technical community, the tuning is proposed through the selection of pre-determined components for the assembly of the TMD and the choice of disposition and spacing of the mechanisms. The system efficacy is then verified in a computational case study, by means of a finite-element model of a floor, before and after the application of the mechanisms.

Auxiliary absorbers provide an effective means to attenuate the vibrations of a structural or mechanical system (the "primary structure"). The simplest auxiliary absorber, a tuned mass damper (TMD), provides reliable narrow-band attenuation but is not robust to the effects of detuning. Strongly nonlinear tuned mass dampers (NTMDs) are capable of wide-band, irreversible energy transfer known as "energy pumping" but can also exhibit high amplitude solutions which significantly amplify the response of the primary structure. Semi-active tuned mass dampers (STMDs) incorporate an actuating element in order to achieve real-time tuning adjustment capability. This thesis presents a global dynamic analysis of the response of a primary structure with an NTMD and then explores the performance of a novel absorber configuration consisting of an NTMD and STMD attached to the primary structure in series. The global dynamic analysis is conducted using a new cell mapping method developed by the author and introduced within the thesis: the parallelized multi-degrees-of-freedom cell mapping (PMDCM) method. The benefits of the additional STMD component are explored for two distinct applications: (1) restoring the performance of a linear TMD which develops a weak nonlinearity due to operation outside of the intended range or other means, and (2) acting as a safety device to eliminate or minimize convergence to the detached high-amplitude response. In the weakly nonlinear case, the STMD is shown to reduce the effects of the nonlinearity and improve attenuation capability by constraining the motion of the NTMD. In the strongly nonlinear case, the STMD effectively eliminates the complex response behavior and high amplitude solutions which were present in the original system, resulting in a single low amplitude response. Experimental tests using an adjustable-length pendulum STMD verify the numerical results.

[pt] Este trabalho tem como finalidade apresentar o desenvolvimento de dois protótipos de amortecedores viscosos utilizados na atenuação das oscilações em motores de passo. É apresentada a metodologia para observação do desempenho dos amortecedores frente diversas condições de acionamento e uma análise dos resultados obtidos. / [en] The present work describs the development of two viscous damoers intended to reduce the oscilations which are common in step motors. The work also present the methodology to observe the performance of viscous dampers in many situations and the experimental results obatained.

Floor vibrations due to occupancy activities on a floor are sometimes annoying to the occupants. Correcting floor vibrations is difficult and can be expensive. The use of tuned mass dampers to control annoying floor vibrations is sometimes a viable solution. Tuned mass dampers (TMDs) have been used primarily to control only one or two modes of vibration of a floor. Experimental research was performed using prototype TMDs to control one, two, and three modes of vibration of various floors. Results from this research are presented in this thesis. Analytical research, performed to obtain information about floor vibration characteristics, is presented and used for the initial design of TMDs and placement of TMDs on a floor. Also, computer models of the floors with TMDs to control one, two, and three modes of vibration were analyzed to obtain further information about changes in floor response and vibration characteristics. This research was performed to provide further insight on the effectiveness of TMDs to control one, two, and three modes of floor vibration and the effects of TMDs on floor vibration characteristics. / Master of Science

Platinautvinning är antagligen en av the farligaste gruvindustrierna. På följd av det har gruvmaskiner som Slotborer utvecklats för att göra utvinningsprocessen säkrare. Slotborern är ett ganska nytt koncept och har problem med vibrationer i borrsträngen när den blir längre.Den här rapporten föreslår fyra koncept för att dämpa/stabilisera dessa vibrationer och ett av dessa koncept var sedan vidare utvecklat efter en evaluering. Det koncept som vidareutvecklats använder sig av massdämpare för att dämpa/stabilisera borrsträngen. Massdämparna är justerbara vilket gör dem effektiva över ett större frekvensområde. Några mätvärden från riktiga borrningar var analyserade och analytiska och matematiska modeller var utvecklade att ha ett liknande beteende som det från mätningarna. Modellerna var sedan utvidgade och massdämparna var implementerade in i modellerna för att analysera deras effekt på systemet. När de analytiska modellerna för massdämparna vara klara nog, började konstruktions- och dimensioneringsarbetet av projektet. Dämparen/stabilisatorn var från början konstruerad för att direkt dämpa vibrationer på 2 – 5 Hz, men på grund av väldigt höga spänningar i massdämparna var frekvensspannet ändrat till 3,5 – 6-7 Hz. Ingen verifiering genom empiriska studier var gjorda men några bra analytiska resultat åstadkoms. / Platinum excavation is probably one of the most dangerous mining businesses. Because of that machines like the Slotborer has been developed to make the excavation process much safer. The Slotborer is a pretty new concept and has problems with oscillations in the drill string when it gets extended.This paper suggests four concepts for dampening/stabilizing these oscillations and one of these concepts was then further developed after an evaluation. The further developed concept uses mass dampers to dampen/stabilize the drill string. The mass dampers are adjustable making them effective for a wider range of frequencies. Some measurements from actual drilling operations was analyzed and analytical and mathematical models were developed to have a similar behavior of that from the measurements. The models was then extended and the mass dampers was applied into the models to analyze their impact of the system. When the analytical models for the mass dampers where done enough, the construction and dimensioning of the project took place. The damper/stabilizer was initially design to directly dampen oscillations between 2 – 5 Hz, but due to very high stresses in the mass dampers the dampening frequency span was changed to 3,5 – 6,7 Hz. No verification through empirical studies was made but some good analytical results of damping was achieved.

[pt] No presente trabalho estuda-se a aplicação do controle estrutural na proteção de estruturas submetidas a carregamentos dinâmicos contra níveis de vibração indesejáveis que possam causar desconforto e, até mesmo, comprometer a segurança e integridade da edificação. Os três tipos de controle estrutural, passivo, ativo e híbrido, são analisados de forma a evidenciar as vantagens do uso do controle híbrido. O mecanismo de controle utilizado é o denominado amortecedor de massa sintonizado (AMS), devido à sua vasta aplicação na Engenharia Civil, tendo uma grande quantidade sido instalada em edifícios, pontes e chaminés industriais para controle de vibrações causadas pelo vento. Verifica-se a influência da não- linearidade da rigidez do AMS no comportamento do sistema principal. A utilização de amortecedores de massa sintonizados múltiplos é também estudada como uma forma de vencer certas limitações quanto à robustez deste tipo de sistema e melhorar sua performance. Analisa-se por fim o comportamento e eficiência do amortecedor de massa híbrido (AMH), em relação ao AMS passivo. Para cálculo da força de controle são utilizados os seguintes algoritmos: controle ótimo linear clássico, controle ótimo instantâneo e controle ótimo não-linear. Uma estratégia para definição das matrizes de ponderação, utilizadas no algoritmo de controle ótimo instantâneo, que minimizem a amplitude da resposta harmônica permanente é apresentada. Exemplos numéricos são apresentados ao longo de todo o trabalho. Verifica-se que a utilização do controle híbrido é mais eficiente que os controles passivo e ativo isolados, requerendo forças de magnitude inferiores, o que reduz bastante o custo deste tipo de sistema. O sistema de controle híbrido se mostrou eficiente na redução de vibrações causadas por carregamentos cujas freqüências eram diversas das consideradas no projeto do sistema de controle passivo. Verificou-se, ainda que o mesmo se comportou de forma satisfatória no caso de discrepância na freqüência natural da estrutura. / [en] In this work the use of structural control is studied to protect dynamically loaded building structures against undesirable vibration levels, which can cause human discomfort and, even more, compromise the building safety and integrity. The three types of structural control, passive, ative and hybrid, are analysed to show the advantages of hybrid control in reducing undesirable vibration levels. The chosen control mechanism is the so called tuned mass damper (TMD), due to its large application in Civil Engineering, having a great number of these devices been installed in buildings, bridges and industrial chimneys to control structural vibrations induced by wind loads. It is also verified the influence of TMD non linear stiffness on the main system behaviour. The use of multiple tuned mass dampers is studied as a possible way of improving the TMD robustness and performance. The hybrid mass damper (HMD) behaviour and efficiency comparing to the passive mass damper is analysed in detail. To calculate the control force the following control algorithms are used: classical optimum linear control, instantaneous optimum control and non-linear optimum control. A strategy to define the weighting matrices used in the instantaneous optimum control algorithm that minimizes the harmonic response amplitude is presented. Several numerical examples are presented aalong the work. The results show that the hybrid control is more efficient that the passive or active control used separately, requiring smaller forces reducing in this way the cost of the control system. The hybrid control system showed to be more efficient in reducing vibrations caused by loadings which had different frequencies from that considered on the passive control design. Moreover it was shown that hybrid control has a satisfactory perfomance when discrepancies in natural frequency occur.