Tuned Mass Dampers

a mass that is connected to a structure

by a spring and a damping element
without any other support,in order to
reduce vibration of the structure.
Tuned mass dampers are mainly used in the following applications:

tall and slender free-standing structures (bridges, pylons of bridges,

chimneys, TV towers) which tend to be excited dangerously in one
of their mode shapes by wind,

Taipeh 101
stairs, spectator stands, pedestrian bridges excited by marching or
jumping people. These vibrations are usually not dangerous for the
structure itself, but may become very unpleasant for the people,
steel structures like factory floors excited in one of their natural
frequencies by machines , such as screens, centrifuges, fans etc.,
ships exited in one of their natural frequencies by the main engines
or even by ship motion.
p0 cos t SDOF System
p0 1
u1 sin( t )
k1 (1 2 )2 (2 )2

k1
eigenfrequency: 1
m1

c1
damping ratio of Lehr:
2 m1 1
 k1
1
m1
 Thin structures with low damping have a high
peak in their amplification if the frequency of
excitation is similar to eigenfrequency
High dynamic forces and deformations

Solutions:
Strengthen the structure to get a higher
eigenfrequency
Application of dampers
Application of tuned mass dampers
 Strengthen the structure to get a higher
eigenfrequency

2 EI
Eigenfrequency of a beam: f1 2
2 L m

Doubling the stiffness only leads to multiplication

of the eigenfrequency by about 1.4.

Most dangerous eigenfrequencies for

human excitation: 1.8 - 2.4 Hz
Application of dampers
Application of tuned mass dampers
 2 DOF System

p 0 cos t
 differential equations:

1 k 1 u1 k 2 u1 u2
m1 u
c 2 u 1 u 2 p 0 cos t

2 k 2 u2 u1 c 2 u 2 u 1 0
m2 u

solution:

u1 C1 cos t C2 sin t u1,max C12 C22

u2 C3 cos t C4 sin t u2,max C 23 C 24
 linear equation system by derivation of the solution
and application to the differential equations:

C := [p0 ( m1 2k1k2 ) p0 c p0 k2 p0 c ]
 u1, max

4
2 2
2

2 2

u1, stat 2 2

4 1
2

2 2 2
2
2

1
2

2 2

p0
static deformation: u1, stat
k1
k1 k2
eigenfrequencies: 1 2
m1 m2
2
ratio of frequencies:
1 1
c2
Damping ratio of Lehr:
2 m2 2
m2
mass ratio:
m1
 0 0.10

0.32

u1, max
u1, stat

1
All lines meet in the points S and T

S T
u1 ( 0) u1 ( ) 2 2 1
2


u1, stat u1, stat 2 2 2 2
1 2
1 1

4 1 2 2 2 2
2
2 0
2 2

1 1 2 2
2
1
2 2 2
S ,T 2

2 2 2

u1 u1,stat
in : u1,S 2 2
u1, stat S 1 S
u1,stat
u1, T 2 2
T 1 T
 Optimisation of TMD
for the smallest deformation: u1, S u1,T

2 2 2
S T
1

2 2 1 2 2
S T 2
2
Optimal ratio of 1
Optimal k2
eigenfrequencies: 1 spring constant

3
Minimize u1, S u1,T u1, stat
8 1
3

3
Optimal damping constant: opt
8 1
3
Ratio of masses:

The higher the mass of the TMD is, the better is the damping.
Useful: from 0.02 (low effect) up to 0.1 (often constructive limit)

Ratio of frequencies:

0.98 - 0.86

Damping Ratio of Lehr:

0.08 - 0.20
 Adjustment:

Different Assumptions of
Youngs Modulus and
Weights

Increased Main Mass

caused by the load
 Problem:

Large displacement of the damper mass

Plastic deformation of the spring
Exceeding the limit of deformation
Realization
damping of torsional oscillation
400 kg - 14 Hz
Millennium Bridge
Mass damper on an electricity cable
Pendular dampers