Efficient estimation of tuned liquid column damper inerter (TLCDI) parameters for seismic control of base-isolated structures

Abstract

This paper presents an enhanced base-isolation (BI) system equipped with a novel passive control device composed of a tuned liquid damper and an inerter (TLCDI). With the aim of reducing the seismic response of BI systems, this contribution focuses on the design of the TLCDI providing analytical solutions for the optimal TLCDI parameters, easily implementable in the design phase. The effectiveness of the proposed approach in terms of seismic response reduction and computational gain is validated by comparison with classical numerical optimization techniques. The control performance of two different base-isolated TLCDI-controlled structures is assessed by employing real-ground motion records, and relevant comparisons with both uncontrolled base-isolated structures and equipped with a conventional TLCD are presented.