Semi-active Tuned Mass Damper control strategy for wind-excited structures

Uncertainties in the main structure dynamic properties as well as those in the characteristics of the excitation may cause a deterioration of the performance of Tuned Mass Dampers. This may happen because the choice of tuning and damping ratio of the auxiliary system, based on the expected values of the dynamic properties of the main structure and on a simple excitation pattern, may prove away from the optimum. An empirical algorithm is presented in this paper which allows the performance of the TMD to be optimised, based on the measured response. The algorithm relies on two assumptions: the smoothness of the spectrum of excitation and the availability of an estimate of the dynamic properties of the main structure. As an example the algorithm is applied to a 64-story building subjected to turbulence buffeting.