System intrinsic, damping maximized, tuned mass dampers for seismic applications

This paper establishes the theoretical basis for a method of selecting design parameters of damping maximized tuned mass dampers (TMDs) intended to reduce the seismic response of structures. Given that increased damping decreases the seismic response of conventional structures, the method maximizes the damping that is physically feasible for the TMD, and consequently for the structural system, and provides parameters that are intrinsic to the system and excitation independent. This is achieved using a physical interpretation of the system's eigenproblem, and by establishing the correspondence between factors of the characteristic equations expressed with structural as well as with modal properties. The resulting parameters for the modal damping maximized TMD are simple, are obtained in closed forms, and are derived in a straightforward manner.