Tuned mass damper (TMD) is an effective passive device in reducing harmful vibrations as long as they are designed correctly. An optimal TMD design method is proposed based on transfer functions and also differential evolution (DE) algorithm is used. The method includes optimization of all parameters which are the mass, stiffness and damping coefficients of a TMD. By using random vibration theory, the mean-square of top floor absolute acceleration, top floor displacement and the sum of mean-squares of interstorey drifts have been chosen as objective functions to be minimized with respect to upper and lower limits of TMD parameters. In the classical design, the mass is usually chosen by the designer to find the optimum values of the stiffness and damping coefficient. In addition to optimizing stiffness and damping coefficients, in this study TMD mass quantity is also optimized by using DE algorithm to minimize objective functions for TMD design. After that, structure system with TMD is tested under six near fault and three far fault ground motions by evaluating responses of the structure. The results obtained here are compared with the methods available in the literature for verification. Numerical results show that the proposed method is effective for optimal TMD design.

This study examines the optimal design of a tuned mass damper (TMD) in the frequency domain so that the dynamic response of cantilever beams can be decreased. Random vibration theory is applied to identify the mean square acceleration of the endpoint of a cantilever beam as the objective function to be reduced. In addition, to determine the optimal TMD coefficient of mass, stiffness, and damping, a differential evolution (DE) optimization algorithm is employed. The upper and lower limit values of these parameters are taken into account. A majority of the previous studies have concentrated on determining just the stiffness and damping parameters of TMD. Nonetheless, in this study there is also the optimization of TMD mass parameters to determine the mass quantity. In addition, there has been inefficient use of the stochastic DE optimization algorithm method for the optimization of TMD parameters in previous studies. Hence, to obtain optimal TMD parameters, this algorithm is precisely used on the objective function. Tests are carried out on the cantilever beam with the TMD system following this optimization method with harmonic base excitations that resonate the foremost modes of the beam and white noise excitation. The method proposed here is reasonably practical and successful regarding the optimal TMD design. When a TMD is designed appropriately, the response of the cantilever beam under dynamic interactions undergoes a considerable reduction.

Today, various systems are used to reduce vibrations in civil engineering structures. Among these systems, tuned liquid dampers are the preferred passive systems due to their ability to be designed in different geometries, their low cost, their ease of installation, and their low maintenance costs. This study examines the effectiveness of tuned liquid dampers (TLD) and tuned liquid column dampers (TLCD) under identical geometric conditions and harmonic ground motion to assess which is more efficient in controlling the behavior of a three-storey steel shear frame model equipped with these systems. A small-scale, three-storey shear frame model placed on a uniaxial shaking table was subjected to harmonic motion with a 5 mm amplitude, 1.4 Hz frequency, and 10 cycles. The chosen frequency aligns with the resonance frequency of the undamped building model’s first mode. Both TLD and TLCD tanks, positioned atop the structure, share a geometry of 30 cm in length and 10 cm in width, with variable liquid heights of 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm. Mounting TLD and TLCD models with four different liquid heights on the undamped model resulted in nine distinct setups. In this designed scenario, the TLDs and TLCDs on the undamped shear frame were compared according to liquid heights at rest. To identify the best-performing system based on liquid height, response displacement–frequency graphs were generated for all models within a frequency range of 0.5–2.5 Hz, and damping ratios were calculated using the half-power bandwidth method. Additionally, harmonic ground motion experiments at the resonance frequency compared both acceleration and displacement values over time for damped and undamped models. Peak acceleration and displacement values on each floor were also analyzed. The results highlight which system proves more effective based on damping ratio, acceleration, and displacement values under equivalent conditions.

Waste ashes and radiation are hazardous environmental and health factors; thus, a lot of attention is paid to their reduction. We present eco-geopolymer building materials (GPBMs) based on the class F fly ashes (FFAs) from thermal power plants (TPPs) and their implementation as a barrier against radioactive radiation. Different methods of production, ratios of FFA to alkali activator, and temperatures of curing were tested. Small spherical particles and higher content of SiO₂ resulted in developed surface area and higher reactivity of Isken TPP FFA than Catalagzi TPP FFA. Lower activator concentration (10% vs. 20%) and curing temperature (70 vs. 100 °C) caused an increase in GPBM compressive strength; the highest value was measured as 93.3 MPa. The highest RA was measured for GPBMs, provided alkali activator ratio (Na₂SiO₃/NaOH) was >2 and its concentration was 20%. The mathematical model developed in this study proved FFA quantity, and thus GPBM mechanical properties, as key factors influencing RA. In the light of these results, the lightweight GPBMs can be excellent materials for the construction sector dedicated to immobilization, storage, and disposal for radionuclides or barriers against radiation; however, multiple steps of their production require careful optimization.

The appropriate design of supports, upon which beams are usually placed as structural components in many engineering scenarios, has substantial significance in terms of both structural efficacy and cost factors. When beams experience various dynamic vibration effects, it is crucial to contemplate appropriate support systems that will effectively adapt to these vibrations. The present work investigates the most suitable support configuration for a cantilever beam, including viscoelastic supports across different vibration modes. Within this particular framework, a cantilever beam is simulated using beam finite elements. The beam is positioned on viscoelastic supports, which are represented by simple springs and damping elements. These supports are then included in the overall structural model. The equation of motion for the beam is first formulated in the temporal domain and then converted to the frequency domain via the use of the Fourier Transform. The basic equations used in the frequency domain are utilized to establish the dynamic characteristics of the beam by means of transfer functions. The determination of the ideal stiffness and damping coefficients of the viscoelastic components is achieved by minimizing the absolute acceleration at the free end of the beam. In order to minimize the objective function associated with acceleration, the nonlinear equations derived from Lagrange multipliers are solved using a gradient-based technique. The governing equations of the approach need partial derivatives with respect to design variables. Consequently, analytical derivative equations are formulated for both the stiffness and damping parameters. The present work introduces a concurrent optimization approach for both stiffness and damping. Passive constraints are established inside the optimization problem to impose restrictions on the lower and higher boundaries of the stiffness and damping coefficients. On the other hand, active constraints are used to ascertain the specific values of the overall stiffness and damping coefficients. The efficacy of the established approach in estimating the ideal spring and damping coefficients of viscoelastic supports and its ability to provide optimal support solutions for various vibration modes have been shown via comparative experiments with prior research.