Experimental and numerical investigation of inerter-enhanced tuned mass dampers for structural control

Abstract

Conventional tuned mass dampers (TMDs) often rely on a high mass ratio to achieve effective vibration control, which poses challenges in applications with strict constraints on damper mass and installation space. To enhance the performance of TMDs, researchers have introduced the inerter component, aiming to achieve an effective mass that can be significantly greater than its physical mass. The performance of the inerter is highly dependent on the installation locations of its two terminals, which should ideally maximize the relative acceleration. In order to evaluate their performance in structural applications, this study conducts both experimental and numerical investigations on Inerter-Enhanced Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDIs). Two experimental prototypes were developed to represent the extreme configurations of inerter installation: grounded (TMDI-G) and ungrounded (TMDI-UG). Corresponding dynamic models were established for both configurations, and an integrated two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) experimental platform was constructed to facilitate testing. A genetic algorithm (GA)-based parameter identification method was then employed to determine the dynamic parameters of both prototypes. Subsequently, based on experimental results and dynamic analysis, the performance of TMDI-G and TMDI-UG with varying parameters were examined, and their vibration control performance was compared with that of traditional TMDs. The results indicate that, for the same physical mass, the grounded TMDI exhibits superior vibration suppression compared to conventional dampers, highlighting its potential for practical applications.