Vibration control of a five storey benchmark building excited by earthquake using liquid column vibrator absorbers

Abstract

This paper examines the response reduction capabilities of a passive fluid damper device, known as the Liquid Column Vibration Absorber (LCVA), when attached to a five storey benchmark building structure requiring control. The five storey benchmark building is an experimental model that can be excited at its base level to simulate ground motion. In previous studies the LCVA has been shown to be effective for wind vibration control. In this study the probable structural response reductions that can be achieved due to four benchmark earthquakes is examined. A further investigation is made to the use of multiple LCVA's (MLCVA) for earthquake response suppression. The issue of robustness is also addressed by comparing the response reduction capabilities of the LCVA and MLCVA configuration under earthquake loading. The robustness becomes a primary issue when the LCVA may become largely mistuned in the event of loss of structural stiffness during an earthquake.