Generalized Mathematical Modeling of Tuned Liquid Column Dampers Under Varying Excitation Amplitudes: Fid-Bau Portal

Generalized Mathematical Modeling of Tuned Liquid Column Dampers Under Varying Excitation Amplitudes

Ding, Hao / Zhang, Jian / Wang, Jin‐Ting

The tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) is an economical and highly efficient device for controlling structural vibrations. Existing research on TLCDs primarily focuses on scenarios where the maximum liquid displacement is less than the initial liquid depth, ensuring that the horizontal tube remains filled with liquid, excluding the presence of gas. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that under substantial external excitation amplitudes, a phenomenon that is not thoroughly encompassed within the confines of the classical TLCD model, the possibility of gas intrusion into the horizontal tube arises. This study develops a generalized theoretical model for TLCDs under varying excitation amplitudes. The developed theoretical model considers the following two working states: (1) no air presence in the horizontal segment, aligning with the classical TLCD model; and (2) air ingress on the left or right side of the horizontal tube. Accordingly, the proposed model encompasses the classical TLCD model as a special instance. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are conducted for TLCDs, and the outcomes are meticulously compared with the predictions from the proposed theoretical model. It is confirmed that the proposed model works well in predicting the hysteretic behavior of the TLCD under different excitation amplitudes. Based on the proposed theoretical model, the effects of the length ratio (the ratio of the horizontal liquid column length to the total liquid column length) on the energy dissipation characteristics, as well as the impacts of the excitation intensity on the control efficiency, are comprehensively investigated. The results indicate that the ingress of gas into the horizontal tube has negative impacts on the TLCD performance. The reported findings hold significant implications for understanding the dynamic behavior of TLCDs under large amplitude excitations.