Seismic analysis of a 20-story building with single and multi-tuned mass dampers including SSI effects

Tuned mass damper (TMD) has been widely used as a common vibration reduction device to provide effective protection for structures. Soil–structure interaction (SSI) effects are significant for accurately assessing seismic responses of structure and TMD performance. In the present research, the effectiveness of TMD is comprehensively investigated by simulating the seismic responses of a 20-story structure equipped with TMD with different features including SSI effects. This paper establishes a reliable numerical model that incorporates SSI effects, and the viscoelastic boundary is utilized to simulate the soil condition and impose seismic action. By comparison with the results of the theory and shake program, the rationality of the model is verified. The mitigating effects of TMDs with different frequencies, mass and damping ratios are investigated under rigid foundation and soil condition, and the effectiveness of multiple tuned mass dampers (MTMDs) using two different approaches is compared. The results show that the TMD tuned to SSI system provides better applicability and performance. Whether considering SSI effects or not, increases its mass can amplify its mitigation effects, but may amplify its negative effects at lower floors. The MTMDs installed at top floor of the structure can perform better than that equally distributed at different floors in SSI system. This paper provides some valuable reference for the seismic analysis of soil-structure-TMD system in practical engineering.