Efficiency of a Hybrid Nature-Inspired Algorithm for Tuning Multiple Tuned Mass Dampers in Buildings with Soil–Structure Interaction

Tuned mass dampers (TMDs) are widely utilized passive control systems for protecting structures against earthquakes. However, determining the optimal location and parameter values for these systems poses a significant challenge in structural design. This study presents an advanced optimization-based technique that aims to find the best placement and parameter values of TMDs to minimize structural response. To achieve this, a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm was developed by integrating the Marine Predators Algorithm with Particle Swarm Optimization. The model’s performance is evaluated using a 10-story building with different floor plans subjected to various earthquake spectra, accounting for structure–soil interaction. Overall, the results indicate that strategically placing TMDs on various floors of the building effectively reduces its seismic response. In some cases, the response decreased by about 35%, while in others, it increased by around 1%. Additionally, the study shows that the building’s response is more significant in dense soils compared to soft and stable soils. For example, during the Tabas earthquake, the structure’s response decreased from 39 to 26 cm on a fixed base, from 54 to 36 cm in soft soil, and from 38 to 31 cm in dense soil conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed hybrid algorithm underscores its potential for further research in reliability-based design optimization of TMDs in structures.