Experimental Study of Vibration Control of Framed Structure Using Various Dampers: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Tall buildings are becoming more common within contemporary cities, driven by a need for structures that are cost-effective, sustainable, lightweight, adaptable, and rapid to erect. However, as dampening in buildings declines, the probability of failure due to severe vibrations rises. To solve this difficulty, effective energy dissipation systems are required to reduce the dynamic response of buildings. Several solutions have been developed to reduce vibrations, including passively energy dissipation systems, that allow mechanical devices that gather energy without the need for an external power source. Passive devices release forces in reaction to structural motion, which reduces the building\'s energy consumption. Metallic dampers, frictional dampers, viscoelastic dampers, & fluid viscosity dampers (FVDs) are all commonly used. FVDs, for particular, are extremely effective at managing shock forces and controlling structural motion. By combining stiffness & damping parts, these devices greatly improve the structure\'s stability under dynamic loading situations, adding to the safety and robustness of current high-rise structures. This research emphasizes the significance of FVDs as a dependable option for vibration management in tall constructions.

Introduction

Earthquakes pose severe threats to life and infrastructure, especially to man-made structures which often fail under seismic forces. This has led to the development of earthquake-resistant buildings and the rise of earthquake engineering focused on designing structures to withstand seismic and wind loads. Modern urbanization drives the construction of high-rise buildings, which are vulnerable to vibrations due to their lightweight design and low natural damping. To improve safety and comfort, vibration control devices such as Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs) and viscous fluid dampers are integrated into these structures. These devices dissipate energy from seismic and wind forces, enhancing building resilience without needing external power.

The paper addresses key challenges including increased urbanization, vibration vulnerability of lightweight structures, and the importance of passive damping systems to control dynamic loads effectively. It reviews extensive research on various vibration control technologies, including passive, semi-active, and active systems, highlighting their efficiency in reducing seismic responses and structural vibrations.

Significant studies demonstrate that damped TMDs, magnetorheological dampers, active tunable mass dampers, and hybrid systems can reduce structural vibrations by substantial margins (up to 70% in some cases). Advanced control algorithms like Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) and Model Predictive Control (MPC) further optimize damping performance. Despite progress, challenges remain in implementing these technologies in complex, high-rise buildings, balancing cost, maintenance, and real-world applicability.

Emerging trends include the use of smart materials (e.g., shape memory alloys), hybrid active-passive damping systems, and real-time adaptive controls. However, gaps such as optimizing multi-tuned mass damper configurations for complex structures, understanding environmental impacts on dampers, and validating long-term reliability persist.

Overall, vibration control devices play a crucial role in earthquake-resistant design by enhancing the safety, stability, and comfort of modern high-rise buildings, while ongoing research seeks to improve their efficiency, adaptability, and practical implementation.

Conclusion

Current developments in the construction sector demand taller and lighter buildings that are also more adaptable and have a low damping value. This raises the possibility of failure and causes challenges in terms of serviceability. There are several approaches available today to reduce structural vibration, one of which is the use of TMD. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of employing TMD to control structural vibration. A numerical approach was created to simulate the multi-story, multi-degree freedom structure frame structure as a shear structure with a TMD. Another numerical approach is designed to analyze the 2D-MDOF frame architecture fitted with a TMD. The current study focuses on TMD\'s capacity to reduce structural vibration caused by an earthquake. A single and double story frame model are tested experimentally without or with TMD to assess structural reaction, and the results are provided in graphical & tabular formats. TMD was used to investigate the effect of different variables on the amplitude response, including frequency ratio, ratio of mass, and damping ratio.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mr. Aditya Ajay There, Prof. H. B. Dahake. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.