Integrated Floating Slab Dynamic Vibration Absorber Based on Tuned Liquid Particle Damping: Theory, Modeling, and Experimentation

Abstract

As subway train-induced low-frequency vibrations continue to rise, there is an increasing need for more effective vibration control strategies. Although current low-frequency vibration reduction methods offer some solutions, further progress is necessary. This paper introduces a novel tuned liquid particle damper-dynamic vibration absorber (TLPD-DVA), which merges the principles of tuned liquid dampers (TLDs) and particle dampers (PDs). By capitalizing on the low-frequency damping capabilities of TLDs, this approach incorporates particles suspended within the liquid to create a hybrid damping device capable of effectively attenuating vibrations across a wide low-frequency range (10 to 80 Hz). A discrete element method-computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) model for multiphase flow is employed to explore the damping mechanism, optimize system parameters, and develop a frequency-dependent nonlinear damping device. The TLPD-DVA is then applied to floating slab track systems to control low-frequency vibrations, and a dynamic interaction model involving the coupled vehicle-TLPD-DVA-floating slab track-tunnel system is established to assess the system’s response. Harmonic response analysis of a floating slab track fitted with TLPD-DVAs, along with dynamic mass and mass ratio indices, clarifies the vibration reduction mechanism. Additionally, field tests demonstrate that the TLPD-DVA reduces vertical acceleration on the floating slab by up to 8 dB and on the tunnel wall by up to 10 dB within the low-frequency range, surpassing the performance of tuned DVAs. The proposed TLPD-DVA offers significant potential for vibration control in various civil engineering applications, including transportation infrastructure, building foundations, and vibration-sensitive facilities.