APPLICATION OF TUNED MASS DAMPERS FOR BRIDGE DECKS

Christian MEINHARDT
Dr.-Ing.
Project Engineer
Gerb Vibration Control Systems
Essen, Germany

Summary
This contribution gives an introduction about the design and the practical application of Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD).
Especially the practical adaptation of the theoretical defined optimum specification and the effect of all relevant
parameters will be discussed. On the basis of realized footbridge projects where TMDs have been successfully applied
to reduce the occurring vibrations, practical ways for an experimental determination of the relevant dynamic behaviour
and the in situ assessment of the TMD effectiveness will be introduced.

Keywords: Footbridge, Damping Ratio, Tuned Mass Damper; TMD Specification

1. Introduction Basics on TMDs

Due to the trend of constructing ever lighter and filigree load-carrying structures, footbridges are becoming more
susceptible to vibrations caused by pedestrians or wind. Usually, these vibrations impact only the serviceability of the
bridges since the desired level of comfort is no longer attained. However, in some cases, the vibrations of the bridges
are so extreme that damages can arise or, in extreme cases, the structural integrity of the bridge can be at risk.

The primary reason for the occurrence of perturbing vibrations is resonance. That means the vibrations only happen for
an excitation of the structure with a frequency which is similar to the natural frequency or a multiple of it. A complex
structure exhibits more than one natural frequency. The number of natural frequencies that are in range of those which
will be excited by wind- or human- induced vibrations depends on the engineering design, the dimensions and material
of the structure.

Fig.1 Applied TMD at a Footbridge

Each natural frequency is associated with a defined natural mode which characterizes the swinging behaviour of the
structure. Natural modes can be bending modes in vertical and horizontal direction or torsional modes. They appear in
different orders, where the order of the mode exposes the number of minima and maxima for the certain kind of bending
or torsional mode. The higher the order of the natural mode, the higher is the associated natural frequency.

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For the case that an excitation causes a resonance-like vibration state, the damping associated with the natural mode of
the considered structure is relatively small. Damping is a combination of material damping, depending on the used
material, and on the structural damping which is defined by the structures constructive design. Concrete structures
reveal a higher damping than steel structures, not only because concrete exhibits a higher material damping, but also
because the interaction between concrete and reinforcement increases the general damping. Welded steel structures,
for example, are supposed to exhibit the lowest damping. The small damping in the case of a resonance-like excitation
results in a slow attenuation of the vibrations.
In order to improve the dynamic behaviour of a footbridge, the structural stiffness of the bridge has to be increased so
that its natural frequencies are out of the range typically excited by pedestrians or wind, or else structural damping of the
bridge has to be increased. The most effective way to increase the structural damping and improve the dynamic
behaviour is the application of dampers (buffers, shock absorbers, Dampers) or TMDs (Tuned Mass Dampers) that
significantly reduce resonance-like excitation related vibrations (see Fig. 1).
A TMD is a vibrating mass that displays movements which are contrary to those of the main structure. To attain these
contrary movements, the mass is elastically supported and tuned for the frequency that has to be eliminated. The
contrary movements cause inertial forces that compensate the structures movements by depriving vibration-energy from
the structure. That leads to an increase of damping. Additionally the interaction between TMD and structure causes a
subdivision of the natural frequencies (Fig. 2).

simplified model
-
Amplification of an Amplification of an
1 degree of freedom
additional spring mass additional spring
model
system - no damping mass system -
Amplification

Amplification

damped
Amplification

Frequency Ratio f/f0 Frequency Ratio f/f0 Frequency Ratio f/f0

Fig.2 Effect of a Tuned Mass Damper

The advantage of using TMDs is that, unlike with the use of dampers, shock absorbers etc., no fixed-point are required.
It is simply force-fitted to the structure. Compared to the additional structural mass that is required to increase the
structural damping conventionally, the necessary TMD mass is only a small fraction, which allows also a subsequent
application with no bigger improvements in the structural design.
The following will give an introduction about an evaluation of footbridges regarding their vibration susceptibility especially
to human induced vibrations and will define empirical values to estimate structural damping ratio of footbridges.
For an application of Tuned Mass Dampers the definition of the optimum specification is discussed and compared to
practical conditions. The design of TMDs will also be introduced. Finally some example projects will be presented.

2. Practical adaptive TMD specifications - optimization

The TMD specifications effective mass, tuning frequency and TMD damping ratio- can be determined regarding a 2
degree of freedom model (see Fig. 3).

2
 Dynamic Amplification
without TMD

Frequency Ratio

Fig. 3 Two degree of freedom model - Amplification functions for several tuning frequencies

(1)

An amplification function can be derived by using the equations of motion for the coupled structural mass and the TMD
mass (1), by applying an exponential approach (2), (3) and simplifying the equation using the terms that are displayed in
(4).
(2)

(3)

(4)

Introducing dimensionless terms (5) and identifying the natural frequencies H,T using (6) leads to the system of
equations (7) that can be used to calculate the amplification functions for the deflection UH0 under a static load FH
displayed in Fig. 5 for several tuning frequencies.

(5)

(6)

3
 (7)

Besides the tuning frequency fT of the TMD and its Damping ratio cT the TMD effect significantly depends on the ratio
between the structures mass and the TMD-mass . By comparing the results, optimum values (minimum amplification)
for the TMD specifications can be defined that depend from each other. An analytical optimization of the TMD
specification considering all parameters becomes difficult. Therefore DEN HARTOG has specified a solution,
disregarding the structural damping (8).

Eq. 7
(8)

The diagram, shown in Figure 4, shows the curves for the optimized TMD parameters which should be only applied for
harmonic excitations of the structure.

fT/fH opt

fT/fH opt

= mT/mH

Fig. 4 Optimization of TMD parameters [6]

Regarding the practical application of TMDs, two problems have to be considered that influence the design of the
dampers. On one hand it is difficult to achieve the optimized damping ratio for all conditions and for the life cycle of the
structure that has to be protected. On the other hand, the dynamic loads, caused by the relative movements of the TMD
shall be limited to minimize the impact to the structure as well as to guarantee the TMD performance for its life cycle.
These supplementary conditions to the optimum TMD specification lead to the question how much the reduction effect of
a TMD depends on the damping ratio and the tuning frequency, which also varies due to the nonlinearities, temperature
or additional masses on the bridge.
Figure 5 shows the amplification functions for four variations of TMD specifications. The movements of the structure
without and with TMD are shown as well as the movements of the TMD itself. The diagrams show that the TMD
movements reduce with a bigger TMD mass. Also it can be seen, that the reduction effect increases with an increase of
the TMD mass while the increase of the TMDs damping ratio does not effect the reduction due to the TMD.

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Fig. 5 Variations of TMD specifications resulting amplification functions

The variation with a bigger TMD mass is also less affected by the shifted frequency. These trends can be summarized by
the graphs that are displayed in Figure 6.
The diagrams withdrawn from an analytical two degree of freedom model - show that the Amplitude reduction, which is
displayed by the factor that is characterized by the structures movement UH and the movement of the bridge without a
TMD U0 strongly depends on the applied TMD mass. That also applies for the relative TMD movements UT / U0 which
become smaller by using a higher TMD mass. The diagram also shows that a reasonable increase of the TMD damping
ratio (< 30%) compared to the optimum damping ratio opt does not effect the reduction UH / U0 while a undervalued
damping ratio decreases the reduction effect and leads to bigger TMD movements UT / U0. So for a practical adaptation,
the TMD ratio should be set greater that the optimum damping ratio to limit the TMD movements and to guarantee the
effectiveness of the damping element (viscous damper) which might be subjected to fluctuations (temperature / humidity
etc.)
Figure 6 also shows that the reduction effect is less influenced by a detuning - for example due to incorrect dynamic
calculations that were used for the design or due to nonlinear ascendancies such as temperature or additional masses
when the tuning frequency is lower than the structures natural frequency. That means that a tuning frequency below the
optimum frequency fopt should be specified. Again the lower the tuning frequency regarding the structures natural
frequency, the smaller are the relative movements.

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Fig. 6 Left: Amplitude reduction due to a TMD depending on the frequency ratio f/fH and the damping ratio /opt Right:
Normalized TMD movements UT/U0 depending on the frequency ratio f/fH and the damping ratio /opt

The results of this theoretical examination have been considered for the design of TMDs in several projects. Particular
aspects of the design components are described in the following chapter. Figure 7 shows the experimentally determined
reduction ratio UH / U0 depending on the applied TMD mass related to the modal mass of the structure for conducted
projects and displays a fair agreement with the theoretical results.
UH/U0

Fig. 7 Experimentaly determined reduction ratio against the applied mass ratio for several conducted projects

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3. Practical Assessment of the Dynamic Behaviour Concepts for a TMD application
For a TMD specification to successfully reduce human or wind induced vibrations, the following information are required:
- Natural frequency in which the footbridge is susceptible
- Corresponding mode shape (maximum of deflections)
- Corresponding modal mass
- Movements of the structure without TMD
The uncertain parts this relevant information can be defined by dynamic calculations or more accurate, by in-situ
measurements of the structures dynamic behaviour. Usually the natural frequencies, the corresponding modes and
damping ratios are determined by an experimental modal analysis, where the modal displacements (displacements
according to the frequency range) of a representing grid of measuring points are measured for an ambient excitation
(see Fig. 8). Knowing the displacements and their phase for each characteristic frequency, the mode shapes can be
displayed according to the geometric grid. This method is elaborate and needs a certain expenditure of time.

Fig. 8 Required grid of measuring points for an experimental modal analysis

According to their construction type, footbridges display relevant mode shapes (vertical, horizontal and torsional) that
can be generalized (see Fig. 9). To determine these expected generalized mode shapes, a more simplified testing
method can be applied. To identify the relevant vertical mode shapes it is sufficient to measure the occurring vibrations
due to an ambient or impulse-like excitation simultaneously at only 2-3 points in mid-span, quarter-span respectively
third-span. Analyzing for which frequency the measuring points show bigger vibrations (see Fig. 10b), leads to an
identification of mode shapes. The determination of the horizontal mode shapes happens analogously. Considering the
phasing of the recorded time histories, the torsion modes can be identified as well (see Fig. 10a).
Knowing the natural frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes the vibration susceptibility of the bridge
deck can be assessed, exciting the bridge deck by jumping with a given beat according to the determined
natural frequencies.

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Fig. 9 First two vertical deck mode shapes of several footbridge types measurement point layout to capture these mode shapes

For each susceptible mode, the damping ratio can be determined analyzing the decaying behaviour of the bridges
vibrations.

a) b)
MP1

1st Mode Shape 2nd Mode Shape

phasing
MP2

Fig.10 a) First two horizontal an torsional deck mode shapes measurement point layout to capture these mode shapes
b) Frequency spectrum on two measuring points to identify the mode shapes

In many cases it is required to apply TMDs for more than just one natural mode. Therefore the TMDs have to be placed
at the locations of the biggest deflections for each mode (see Fig.11). In case TMDs for different mode shapes are
placed at the same location (vertical and torsional modes), the reduction effect due to the interaction of the TMDs can be
estimated with the diagrams in Figure 6 subject to the tuning frequency difference of the TMDs and the modal masses
for each mode shape. To estimate the interaction effect for TMDs in different locations, more complex calculations that
capture the precise mass distribution such as Finite Element Calculations are required.

1st Mode 2nd Mode

TMD 1st mode

TMD 2nd mode

Fig.11 TMD layout for different vibration susceptible mode shapes

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The effectiveness of an applied TMD system can be determined with the same measurement campaigns that were used
to determine the dynamic behaviour of the bridge deck. Therefore it is sufficient to assess the increase of structural
damping due to the TMDs and to identify the occurring vibrations for a defined load case with and without TMD.
Figure 12 shows the time history of recorded vibrations for a load case. It can be clearly seen that the vibrations reduced
and the damping ratio increased due to the application of TMDs.

100
without TMD
80
with TMD
60
Vibration Velocity [mm/s]

40

20

-20

-40

-60

-80

-100
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Time [s]

Fig.12 Time history of recorded vibrations for a defined load case without and with TMD

4. Conclusions
Due to the application of Tuned Mass Dampers the dynamic behaviour of footbridges can be enhanced to reduce the
vibration susceptibility to human and wind induced vibrations. It has been shown, that the optimum TMD specifications
have to follow practical aspects such as allowable TMD movements and the allowance of detuned TMDs and variations
of the damping ratio. This paper also documents the adequate results to assess the dynamic behaviour and the vibration
susceptibility of foot bridges with simplified measuring methods.

5. References
[1] C. PETERSEN ,Dynamik der Baukonstruktionen, Vieweg Verlag, 1996
[2] J.P. DEN HARTOG,Mechanische Schwingungen, 2. Edition, Springer Verlag, 1952
[3] B. WEBER, Lecture Tragwerksdynamik, ETH Zrich, 2002
[4] H. BACHMANN, W. AMMAN,Schwingungsprobleme bei Bauwerken: Durch Menschen und Maschinen induzierte
Schwingungen, IABSE, 1987
[5] H. BACHMANN, Vibration Problems in Structures- Practical Guidelines, Birkhuser Verlag, 1995
[6] C. PETERSEN, Schwingungsdmpfer im Ingenieurbau, Maurer und Shne GmbH, 2001
[7] H. GRUNDMANN ET AL., Schwingungsuntersuchungen von Fugngerbrcken, Bauingenieur Vol. 68, Springer
Verlag, 1993
[8] Y. MATSUMOTO ET AL., Dynamic Design of footbridges, IABSE, 1978