Application of the energy flow method to vibration control of buildings with multiple tuned liquid dampers

Abstract

The energy flow method is used to study the vibrations of tall buildings coupled to rectangular tanks as vibration absorbers and also for a primary structure coupled to a rotary tuned liquid column damper. The tall building is studied using the receptance approach, with harmonic and wind loads. The formulation deals with one beam simulating the building, coupled to many tanks at arbitrary positions. The coupling forces and velocities obtained from the formulation are used in an energy flow analysis, which balances the input, dissipated and transferred energy components of the beam. The reduction in time averaged energy levels in the beam due to the absorber is studied with a few examples. A parameter, which gives the energy reduction of the beam due to the attachment of the tank is presented, and found to be a useful indicator of the efficacy of the tank. The energy reduction due to the rotary tuned liquid column damper is also illustrated with an example. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.