Influence of ground motion intensity on the effectiveness of tuned mass dampers

The effectiveness of Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD) on buildings subjected to moderate and high-intensity motions is analysed. First, the response of a 22-storey four-bay reinforced concrete non-linear frame with a TMD is studied for motions with different intensities. Several values of the relevant parameters are assumed in the analyses. Then, equivalent single-degree-of-freedom systems with TMDs and without them are defined and analysed under the action of ground motions with intensities associated with different return intervals at the site where the structures are located. Vulnerability curves for the systems are obtained based on the probabilities of reaching two different performance limit states. The expected annual rate of exceedance of each limit state is calculated. The results show that the effectiveness of TMDs is higher for systems with small non-linearity produced by small and moderate earthquakes, than for systems with high non-linear behaviour, generally associated with high-intensity motions. Some recommendations about the applicability of TMD are given. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.