PASSIVE CONTROL SYSTEM CONCENTRATED MASSES BUILDINGS 1

Passive Control System in Structures:

Concentrated Masses in Buildings

Laura T. Loaiza Calderón

Escuela de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Sede Manizales
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Passive Control System

Concentrated masses, as a Passive Control System to counteract seismic and wind

forces in high-rise buildings, are a method that enhances the building's response to dynamic

action and minimizes oscillation by positioning masses in strategic locations in the buildings.

The concentrated mass mechanism works by means of methods such as Tuned Mass

Dampers (TMD) and Tuned Liquid Dampers (TLD). The first makes use of solid masses

such as large steel balls, and the second, liquid bodies such as water in particular. Both

require a study of the modal characteristics of the structure.

To begin with, da Silva & Fleck Fade (2020) explain that when structures are

subjected to seismic activity, horizontal forces are produced in the foundations that induce

very high vibrations in the building generating the ‘Phenomenon of Resonance’, this causes

the structure to have large displacements or collapse. For this reason, this passive control

system of the structures improves the dynamic response of the building to the earthquake,

reducing the amplitude of the vibrations induced by it, and achieving that the period of the

mass or liquid is tuned to the period of the building.

In this regard, the reduction of the amplitude of the vibrations induced by the

earthquake means that the oscillation of the building is being minimized in order to avoid the

displacement of the drift of the floors. In this order, da Silva & Fleck Fade (2020) state that

the structural control by means of Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD) are the best alternative to

reduce the problem of drift between floors that cause damage to the structure.
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In the case of Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD), the system "works with a simple process

of associating a mass, a spring, and a damper to reduce the peak amplitude as minimum as

possible.” (Rahman MS., et al. 2017). Tuned Liquid Dampers (TLD) as they state Novo, T.,

et al. (2014) is realized by oscillating the free surface of a fluid inside a tank. For both cases,

it is necessary to make a study of the modal characteristics of the structure which will

determine more precisely the place where the masses should be placed. (Rahman MS., et al,

2017). Although, in most cases these masses tend to be placed on the top floors of the

buildings since they are the ones that have the greatest impact on vibration.

In conclusion, and taking into account the statement proposed for this work, Passive

Control Systems that make use of Concentrated Masses are one of the best mechanisms

against dynamic action, which counteract the oscillation caused by wind and seismic events

in high-rise buildings (which means that this method can work with buildings of 11 stories or

more). Accordingly, this mechanism aims to prevent the displacement of the structure by

controlling the drift, making the periods of the placed mass equal to the periods of the

structure. Furthermore, the criterion for the location of these masses in the buildings is

obtained from the modal analysis of the structure, which includes the Resonance Frequency,

the Damping and the Resonance Vibration Pattern of the buildings. This explains, that the

masses are not necessarily located in the middle part of the building, but, according to the

analysis, they tend to be located in the last floors of the building.

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References

Rahman MS, Hassan MK, Seongkyu Chang, Dookie Kim. Adaptive multiple tuned mass

dampers based on modal parameters for earthquake response reduction in multi-story

buildings. Advances in Structural Engineering [Internet]. 2017 Sep [cited 2021 Sep

7];20(9):1375–89. Available from: https://search-ebscohost-

com.ezproxy.unal.edu.co/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=124565791&lang=es

&site=ehost-live

da Silva Brandão, F., & Fleck Fadel Miguel, L. (2020). Vibration control in buildings under

seismic excitation using optimized tuned mass dampers. Frattura e Integrita

Strutturale, 54, 66–87. https://doi-org.ezproxy.unal.edu.co/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.54.05

Novo, T., Varum, H., Teixeira-Dias, F., Rodrigues, H., Silva, M., Costa, A., & Guerreiro, L.

(2014). Tuned liquid dampers simulation for earthquake response control of buildings.

Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 12(2), 1007–1024. https://doi-

org.ezproxy.unal.edu.co/10.1007/s10518-013-9528-2