Introduction and evaluation of a simple and accessible control strategy for seismic-excited structures: Ridge-Isolated Tuned Mass Damper

Etedali, Sadegh

doi:10.22065/jsce.2025.517661.3701

Introduction and evaluation of a simple and accessible control strategy for seismic-excited structures: Ridge-Isolated Tuned Mass Damper

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Sadegh Etedali

Associate Professor, Faculty of Mining, Civil and Chemical Engineering, Birjand University of Technology, Birjand, Iran

10.22065/jsce.2025.517661.3701

Abstract

A novel seismic control system, referred to as Ridge-Isolated Tuned Mass Damper (RITMD) is introduced; combined of the features of a Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) and seismic isolation. In RITMD, the building’s ridge acts as a secondary oscillator, and the installation of seismic isolators at the ridge level allows for large displacements. Instead of transferring the entirety of seismic energy to the main structure, a significant portion is diverted to the ridge, which effectively reduces the building’s seismic vibrations. To evaluate the performance of the RITMD system, a five-story steel moment-resisting frame was subjected to nonlinear dynamic analysis under two far-field (El Centro and Hachinohe) and two near-field (Kobe and Northridge) earthquakes. Initial modeling was conducted in ETABS, and nonlinear analyses were carried out using SeismoStruct. Results indicated that implementing the RITMD system significantly reduced seismic responses, including story displacements, accelerations, inter-story drifts, and base shear. Specifically, in the El Centro earthquake, story displacements were reduced by up to 36.71%, accelerations by 38.55%, and drifts by 36.71%. In the Kobe earthquake, these reductions were 14.90%, 17.30%, and 17.51%, respectively. On average, the system achieved reductions of 20% in displacements, 15% in accelerations, 18% in drifts, and 20% in base shear. With its applicability to both new and existing structures, low cost, quick implementation, and effective performance, the RITMD system represents a practical solution for enhancing seismic safety in buildings.

Keywords

Seismic control of structures

Tuned mass damper

Seismic isolation

Ridge-isolated TMD

Seismic evaluation

Subjects

Structural and Earthquake Engineering

1. Rahimi, F., Aghayari, R., & Samali, B. (2020). Application of tuned mass dampers for structural vibration control: a state-of-the-art review. Civil Engineering Journal, 1622-1651.

2. Bakre, S. V., & Jangid, R. S. (2007). Optimum parameters of tuned mass damper for damped main system. Structural Control and Health Monitoring:, 14(3), 448-470.

3. Leung, A. Y. T., & Zhang, H. (2009). Particle swarm optimization of tuned mass dampers. Engineering Structures, 31(3), 715-728.

4. Marano, G. C., Greco, R., & Chiaia, B. (2010). A comparison between different optimization criteria for tuned mass dampers design. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 329(23), 4880-4890.

5. Mirzai, N. M., Zahrai, S. M., & Bozorgi, F. (2017). Proposing optimum parameters of TMDs using GSA and PSO algorithms for drift reduction and uniformity. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 63(2), 147-160.

6. Keshtegar, B., & Etedali, S. (2018). Nonlinear mathematical modeling and optimum design of tuned mass dampers using adaptive dynamic harmony search algorithm. Structural Control and Health Monitoring, 25(7), e2163.

7. Etedali, S., Akbari, M., & Seifi, M. (2019). MOCS-based optimum design of TMD and FTMD for tall buildings under near-field earthquakes including SSI effects. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 119, 36-50.

8. Etedali, S. (2020). Ranking of design scenarios of TMD for seismically excited structures using TOPSIS. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 14, 1372-1386.

9. Etedali, S. (2022). Probabilistic study on buildings with MTMD system in different seismic performance levels. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Journal, 81(4), 429-441.

10. De Luca, A., & Guidi, L. G. (2019). State of art in the worldwide evolution of base isolation design. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 125, 105722.

11. Jangid, R. S. (2005). Optimum friction pendulum system for near-fault motions. Engineering Structures, 27(3), 349-359.

12. Jangid, R. S. (2007). Optimum lead–rubber isolation bearings for near-fault motions. Engineering Structures, 29(10), 2503-2513.

13. Huang, P. C., Wan, S., and Yen, J. Y. (2009). A novel method of searching appropriate ranges of base isolation design parameters through entropy‐based classification. Structural Control and Health Monitoring, 16(4), 385-405.

14. Etedali, S., Hasankhoie, K., & Sohrabi, M. R. (2020). Optimal design of pure-friction isolators with and without restoring device: A multi-objective cuckoo search-based approach for seismic-excited structures. Structures, 25, 708-719.

15. Nigdeli, S. M., Bekdaş, G., and Alhan, C. (2014). Optimization of seismic isolation systems via harmony search. Engineering Optimization, 46(11), 1553-1569.

16. Etedali, S., & Zamani, A. A. (2022). Semi-active control of nonlinear smart base-isolated structures using MR damper: sensitivity and reliability analyses. Smart Materials and Structures, 31(6), 065021.

17. Kamalzare, M., Johnson, E. A., and Wojtkiewicz, S. F. (2015). Efficient optimal design of passive structural control applied to isolator design. Smart structures and systems, 15(3), 847-862.

18. Villaverde, R. (1998). Roof isolation system to reduce the seismic response of buildings: a preliminary assessment. Earthquake spectra, 14(3), 521-532.

19. Villaverde, R., & Mosqueda, G. (1999). Aseismic roof isolation system: analytic and shake table studies. Earthquake engineering & structural dynamics, 28(3), 217-234.

20. Mellkumyan, M.: New Solution in Seismic Isolation. Lusabats, Yerevan (2011). ISBN: 978-9939-808-76-5.

21. Melkumyan, M. (2013). Experimental investigation of efficiency of tuned single and double mass damper and its application in the form of an additional upper floor for seismic protection of existing multistory buildings. Construction Engineering, 1(2), 15.

22. Nisticò, N., Gkagka, E. E., & Gantes, C. J. (2015). Roof isolation with tuned mass-based systems and application to a prefabricated building. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 40, 431-442.

23. Marulanda, J., Thomson, P., & Tocoche, J. (2023). Seismic retrofitting of academic buildings using roof isolation as a tuned mass damper. Ingeniería y competitividad, 25(1).

24. Rajana, K., & Giaralis, A. (2023). A novel nonlinear isolated rooftop tuned mass damper-inerter (IR-TMDI) system for seismic response mitigation of buildings. Acta Mechanica, 234(9), 3751-3777.

25. Applied Technology Council. (2009). Quantification of building seismic performance factors. US Department of Homeland Security, FEMA.