Optimal design of a novel tuned mass rate-independent damper for structural vibration suppression

In the present study, a novel type of nontraditional tuned mass damper (TMD), termed as a tuned mass rate-independent damper (TMRD), was proposed for structural vibration suppression. The proposed TMRD consisted of a spring element, a mass element, and a rate-independent linear damping (RILD) element, which generated damping forces independent of the excitation frequencies. Based on the fixed-point theory, analytical formula of optimally designing the characteristic parameters of the TMRD were derived. The advantages of the TMRD over TMDs in suppressing the structural vibration and damper stroke were demonstrated, when they were separately used in flexible structures subjected to harmonic and earthquake-induced ground motions. For practical applications, an approximate method was presented to passively realize the proposed TMRD. It was suggested that the proposed method can be used to physically realize the TMRD and provide a superior solution than the conventional TMD to suppressing the structural vibration and damper stroke.