Innovative Velocity-Squared Damping Hybrid Mass Damper: Enhancing Vibration Control for High-Rise Buildings

High-rise buildings are modern engineering masterpieces, however, keeping these towering structures safe and comfortable for their occupants especially under forces like strong winds and earthquakes can be challenging. Indeed, the taller and slimmer these buildings get, the more prone they are to vibrations which can compromise safety and also how functional and comfortable they are to use. Solving these issues calls for creative strategies to control vibrations while working within the physical and design constraints that high-rise buildings naturally impose. Traditionally, engineers have relied on tools like tuned mass dampers (TMDs) and active mass dampers (AMDs) to tackle structural vibrations. TMDs are passive systems, well-known for their simplicity and efficiency. However, they tend to be quite finicky, as they are highly sensitive to changes in the frequency of the loads acting on them. On the other hand, AMDs, which use active feedback systems, are more flexible and effective in suppressing vibrations. Unfortunately, they come with their own limitation of the need external power to function and can fail if key components stop working. Neither of these systems is a perfect fit for high-rise buildings. Hybrid mass dampers (HMDs) attempt to bridge this gap by blending the benefits of TMDs and AMDs. They strike a balance between dependability and adaptability. But even HMDs are not without their flaws. When faced with extreme conditions like strong typhoons or major earthquakes, the forces and movements required by these systems can exceed their design limits which make them less reliable or, worse, unusable. Additionally, the electronic components in traditional HMDs can be expensive and prone to failure which raises concerns about their long-term durability and cost-effectiveness.

In response to these challenges and in a recent publication in Engineering Structures Journal, researchers from Guangzhou University—Dr. Zhenfeng Lai, Dr. Yanhui Liu, Dr. Zhipeng Zhai, Dr. Huating Chen, and Dr. Jianhui Wang—have introduced an innovative solution: the velocity-squared damping hybrid mass damper (VSD-HMD). This new system combines a velocity-squared damping device (VSDD) with an AMD, creating a hybrid approach that reduces the force and movement demands on the AMD while improving vibration control. The VSDD is especially notable because it works passively, requiring no external power, and can adapt to a wider range of frequencies. Using the Canton Tower as a real-world model, the researchers tested and validated the effectiveness of this system through advanced simulations and experimental methods, showing promise for the future of high-rise vibration control. The researchers carried out a detailed set of experiments to evaluate how well the VSD-HMD could handle vibrations in tall buildings. They chose the Canton Tower, a towering 600-meter landmark in Guangzhou, China, as their test subject. Its height and slim design make it particularly prone to vibrations caused by wind, which made it the perfect candidate for testing how effective the system could be under realistic conditions. The first phase of their study involved running detailed numerical simulations and they used advanced finite-element models to recreate the Canton Tower and subjected it to various wind scenarios, including different angles of wind attack. These simulations allowed them to analyze how the damping system interacted with the building’s structure. Their findings were promising: the VSD-HMD performed better than traditional HMDs. For example, it reduced maximum structural displacement at the tower’s top by 1.53% and cut peak acceleration by 4.52%. While these figures may seem small, in the world of high-rise buildings, even slight improvements can make a big difference in terms of safety and comfort. After completing the simulations, the researchers moved on to real-time hybrid simulations to confirm their results. This experimental setup involved combining a scaled version of the tower with AMD system and VSDD. They used precise data collection and control technologies to synchronize the numerical and physical parts of the test. By doing so, they were able to replicate real-world conditions on a smaller scale, ensuring the results were accurate and reliable. The experiments uncovered key advantages of the VSD-HMD. For instance, under extreme wind conditions, the maximum stroke of the AMD was reduced by 4.82%, and the control force required dropped by a significant 19.82% and these reductions improved performance and made the system much more energy-efficient. Unlike traditional dampers, the VSDD doesn’t need external energy to function but relies on its passive design with a damping force that adjusts dynamically to changes in velocity, making it both effective and efficient. Finally, the close match between the experimental and simulation results—differences in peak responses stayed below 5%—highlighted the robustness of the researchers’ hybrid testing approach.

In conclusion, the new study by Guangzhou University scientists is significant because it takes a fresh and innovative approach to tackling the persistent challenge of controlling vibrations in high-rise buildings. One of the standout achievements of this research is how the VSD-HMD reduces the control force and operational stroke of the AMD without compromising its performance. The system manages to suppress vibrations effectively while using much less energy. This is a big deal, especially considering the high energy demands and inefficiencies of traditional active systems, particularly during extreme events like strong winds or earthquakes. From a practical angle, this system is also designed with space efficiency in mind. High-rise buildings often struggle with tight internal layouts, but the VSD-HMD’s compact size and reduced stroke requirements make it easier to incorporate into slim structures. This could make it especially appealing in cities where space is at a premium and design priorities lean toward aesthetics and functionality. The potential of the VSD-HMD goes far beyond skyscrapers and its versatility makes it suitable for controlling vibrations in other structures like bridges or even offshore wind turbines.