Optimality criteria based seismic design of multiple tuned-mass-dampers for the control of 3D irregular buildings

Multiple tuned mass dampers (MTMDs) tuned to various frequencies have been shown to efficiently control the seismic response of structures where multiple modes are dominant. One example is irregular structures that are found more vulnerable than their symmetric counterparts. With the technology of MTMDs available, design and optimal design methodologies are required for application. Such a methodology, in the form of an analysis/redesign (A/R) scheme, has been previously presented by the authors while limiting responses of interest to allowable values, i.e., performance-based design (PBD). In this paper, the A/R procedure is modified based on formal optimality criteria, making it more cost efficient, as well as more computationally efficient. It is shown that by using the methodology presented herein, a desired performance level is successfully targeted by adding near-optimal amounts of mass at various locations and tuning the TMDs to dampen several of the structure's frequencies. This is done using analysis tools only.