CE 556P – Structural Engineering Laboratory

Indian Institute of Technology Mandi

Instructor: Submitted By:

Dr. Subhamoy Sen Arushi (T23069)

(Associate Professor) Abhishek Chauhan (T23053)

School of Engineering Rahul (T23059)

Abhishek Bhardwaj (T23061)

Ankit Kumar (T23064)

Shaking Table Test of Seismic Control System Using
Tuned Mass Damper
Aim:
Analysing the overhead tank as tuned mass damper for energy dissipation mechanism in
ground excitation.

Introduction:
Given the possible effects of natural disasters, structures are evolving into tall, light, and
highly resilient buildings. This is bringing structural vibration control more and more
attention. Depending on the signal that the structure reacts to and if external energy and
excitation are needed, vibration control can be categorised as active, semiactive, passive, or
hybrid control. Because it requires no external energy input, is inexpensive, easy to maintain,
and is simple to design, passive control is frequently employed in civil engineering. Energy
dissipation, vibration isolation, and damping methods such as particle dampers (PD), tuned
mass damping (TMD), and tuned liquid damping (TLD) systems are examples of common
passive controls.

A tuned mass damper (TMD) is a device consisting of a mass, a spring, and a damper that is
attached to a structure in order to reduce the dynamic response of the structure. The
frequency of the damper is tuned to a particular structural frequency so that when that
frequency is excited, the damper will resonate out of phase with the structural motion. Energy
is dissipated by the damper inertia force acting on the structure.

Pendulum tuned mass dampers (PTMDs) are commonly used in adding damping to tall
structures, including high-rise buildings, control and communication towers, stacks, etc.
These multi-directional TMDs, which are made up of mass blocks suspended by steel cables
or rods, can readily be tuned to the very low natural frequencies associated with the primary
modes of tall structures. An advantage of PTMD is that the pendulum can oscillate in all
directions providing energy dissipation for loads applied in different directions. However, the
PTMD's performance in reducing vibration depends on its optimum design parameters'
values: the pendulum's mass, length, and damping, and other. Under seismic loads, PTMD
performance depends on the soil dynamic properties that define dominant frequency content
of ground acceleration and the main structure dynamic properties (frequency and damping). It
also depends on the ductility demand level of the main structure, mainly due to the intensity
of seismic excitation.

In practice, PTMDs are mainly used to:

 Reduce wind-induced vibration of tall and slender structures

 Wind turbine towers
  High-rise steel towers.

In practical applications, PTMD has shown to be effective in low and medium-intensity

earthquake excitation. Mainly where the fundamental vibration mode of the main structure
controls most of the response of the building.

PRINCIPLE:

A pendulum tuned mass damper (TMD) is a type of vibration control device used to reduce
the amplitude of vibrations in structures, particularly in buildings and bridges. The principle
behind a pendulum tuned mass damper involves the use of a mass (the pendulum) attached to
a structure through a spring and a damper. The mass is allowed to move freely in response to
the structural vibrations, and its motion helps to counteract and reduce the overall vibrations
of the structure.

Figure 1: A simple pendulum tuned mass damper.

Main Frame:
The test setup is of a three-dimensional frame model that is designed in such a convenient
manner that elements of this frame can be easily assembled or dismantled as needed without
much complexity. The entire structure is composed of 8 mm x 8 mm column and 6 mm x 6
mm beam elements (twenty numbers each) assembled to realize the 3D structural
configuration with the help of 40 joints. The ends of the beams and columns are attached with
a C-shaped joint arrangement. Every component is composed of grade 304 stainless.
 Figure 2: model of 3D building

Equipment Requires

(1) Test structure

(2) Power supply
(3) Strain Sensor (Type -ICP)
(4) Accelerometer

(5) DAQ System: Data acquisition system (DAQ) to collect and record data from the
sensors. This system may include signal conditioning units, analogue-to-digital
converters, and data logging software
 Number of channels: 8 (8 × ACC)4 (4 × ACC), 4 (3 × strain, hammer),
 Sampling Rate: 20 kS/s per channel

(6) Software (DewesoftX):

 Measures the time-domain response of the sensor.

(7) Pendulum
 (8) Shake table:
Shake table are an essential tool for assessing the behaviour of structural components,
the whole system works similar to those induced in real earthquake. Shake table are
used to study the dynamic effects on the performance of specimens.

Uses Of Shake Table:

1. To check the stability of Building models.
2. To check the stability of Bridge models.
3. Components of building and bridge such as beam and column and foundation.
4. Assessment of dynamic and seismic behaviour of civil engineering structures.

Advantages of Shake Table:

1. As it tests the resistance of structures in earthquake which becomes helpful from
destructions.
2. Dynamic structural behaviour can be done which helps to understand the situations
of the structures.
3. Various types of ground vibrations and seismic research can be done by using shake
table.

Procedure:

• The shake table was placed on a level surface and connected to the power source in the
preliminary step.
• The first sensor was attached at the base of the shake table, and the other ends of the
accelerometers were connected to the data acquisition system (DAQ) to record
acceleration data during the experiment. The accelerometers were calibrated to ensure
their proper functioning.

• A frame structure was then placed over the shake table, and a pendulum was attached
within that frame structure. Two sensors were affixed to the top left corners of the third
and fifth floors.

• Excitation was applied to the shake table through the power source, and the
acceleration of the structure was recorded.

• Two sensors were positioned at the top, and one was placed at the base to record lateral
acceleration data with respect to time. 1N weights were added to the pendulum, and
base excitation was provided to observe the behaviour of the frame under this
condition, recording acceleration data with time.

• The process was repeated at different weights (2N, 5N, 10N, 15N, and 20N) to observe
the acceleration behaviour of the frame under varying loads. The acceleration of the
system was recorded at each of these weights by simulating the shake table.
Observation:

Acceleration vs Time Graph for Shear Frame under Base excitation:

Graphs for Top level Accelerometer:

Acceleration Vs Time graph for no Acceleration vs Time graph with 1N

pendulum pendulum weight

10 10

5 5
0 0
-5 -5
-10 -10

Acceleration vs time graph for 2N Accleration vs Time graph with 5N

pendulum pendulum
8 8
6 6
4 4
2 2
0 0
-2
-2
-4
-6 -4
-8 -6
-10 -8
 Accelerometer vs Time graph for
Accleration vs Time graph for 10N 15N
pendulum 10

6 5
2 0
-2 -5
-6 -10
-10

Accelorometer vs time graph for 20N pendu-

Figure: lum acceleration vs time
graph for 10 accelerometer1 (top
level) 5
0
-5
-10
FFT vs Frequency
response for Shear frame with liquid squash damper:
For top level accelorometer:
FFt Result for Shear Frame with no pendulum
3000

X 5.25777
Y 2523.42
2500

2000
Amplitude

1500

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
frequency (Hz)
 FFt Result for Shear Frame with 1N pendulum weight
3000

X 5.09296
Y 2562.28

2500

2000
Amplitude

1500

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
frequency (Hz)

FFt Result for Shear Frame with 2N pendulum weight

3000

X 5.25478
Y 2630.42

2500

2000
Amplitude

1500

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
frequency (Hz)

FFt Result for Shear Frame with 5N pendulum weight

3000

X 5.08039
Y 2833.49

2500

2000
Amplitude

1500

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
frequency (Hz)
Result:
 Weight Natural Natural Natural
attached to frequency (Hz) frequency (Hz) frequency (Hz)
the frame in of Top-Level of Mid-Level of Mid-Level
(N) sensor sensor sensor
0 5.258 52.416 50.313
1 5.093 52.413 50.312
2 5.255 52.415 50.318
5 5.08 52.423 49.967
10 5.081 51.927 50.311
15 5.078 51.923 49.97
20 4.952 4.592 50.31

Conclusion:

In the acceleration time graphs, notable changes in acceleration amplitude are

absent.

Analysing via FFT, the initial addition of weight on the hanging rod shows a
gradual decrease in the first natural frequency. However, a significant shift
occurs with a 20N addition, showcasing heightened changes as more weight is
incrementally added.

The data reveals that excluding the rod's weight, the natural frequency
diminishes steadily with increased damping in the system. Greater damping
leads to a departure from the ideal natural frequency.

By further experimentally adding weights, it's possible to determine a critical

weight value for achieving maximum damping.

References:
 Dr. Vra Saathappan, Manjusha M. (2017). “Analytical Investigation of Water Tank as
Tuned Mass Damper Using ETAB 2015”. International Research Journal of
Engineering and Technology .ISO 9001:2008 certified Journal.
 Pradipta Banerji (2004). “Tuned Liquid Dampers for Control Of Earthquake
Response” 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Vancouver, B.C.,
Canada. August 1-6, 2004. Paper No.1666.