Performance of tuned liquid column dampers considering maximum liquid motion in seismic vibration control of structures

The optimum design of tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) is usually performed by minimizing the maximum response of structure subjected to stochastic earthquake load without imposing any restrictions on the possible maximum oscillation of the liquid within the vertical column. However, during strong earthquake motion, the maximum oscillation of vertical column of liquid may be equal to or greater than that of the container pipe. Consequently the physical behavior of the hydraulic system may change largely reducing its efficiency. The present study deals with the optimization of TLCD parameters to minimize the vibration effect of structures addressing the limitation on such excessive liquid displacement. This refers to the design of optimum TLCD system which not only assure maximum possible performance in terms of vibration mitigation, but also simultaneously put due importance to the natural constrained criterion of excessive lowering of liquid in the vertical column of TLCD. The constraint is imposed by limiting the maximum displacement of the liquid to the vertical height of the container. Numerical study is performed to elucidate the effect of constraint condition on the optimum parameters and overall performance of TLCD system of protection.