Investigating annular baffle performance to enhance characteristics of isolated cylindrical TLD for improved mitigation of earthquake-induced vibrations in high-rise buildings

Abstract

This research explores the potential of an isolated cylindrical Tuned Liquid Damper (TLD) with an annular baffle to function as a multi-role system for high-rise buildings, simultaneously mitigating earthquake-induced vibrations and suppressing liquid sloshing. The inherent symmetric dynamic response of cylindrical TLDs offers advantages over rectangular designs; however, tuning steel cylindrical tanks to match the low natural frequencies typically found in high-rise buildings remains a considerable challenge. To overcome this tuning challenge for broad cylindrical TLDs, Laminated Rubber Bearings (LRB) are utilized. The study investigates how the annular baffle, traditionally known to increase base shear, can be strategically employed to enhance vibration damping in a 10-story building while also ensuring liquid stability under earthquake excitations. Employing Coupled Acoustic-Structure Interaction (CAS) analysis with a mid-mounted baffle, the results show that the annular baffle can provide significant improvements: a 17.7 % reduction in top-story maximum relative displacement (compared to 13.6 % without a baffle), a 5.5 % greater decrease in the standard deviation of relative displacement, and increased resistance forces. Notably, the average sloshing displacement is reduced by 20.6 %. The findings confirm that the annular-baffled, isolated cylindrical TLD offers superior performance in both vibration control and sloshing suppression, facilitating its dual use and enabling broader, architecturally and structurally viable tank designs.