Directionality effects in tuned liquid column dampers

Abstract

Structural vibrations in the real world are multidimensional and multidirectional. The directionality effects of tuned liquid column dampers (TLCDs) significantly influences their dynamic characteristics and vibration control effectiveness. This study presents computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based numerical analyses for four types of dampers: (1) conventional TLCD, (2) toroidal TLCD, (3) star-shaped TLCD, and (4) polygonal TLCD, with a particular focus on the directionality effects of these damping devices. During the numerical simulations, to ensure a fair comparison, all types of TLCDs are designed with the same liquid mass, the same liquid oscillation frequency, and the same container footprint. A quantitative analysis and comparison is conducted on the dynamic properties and vibration reduction characteristics of these dampers under unidirectional excitation at various directions, as well as under bidirectional excitation scenarios involving two mutually orthogonal directions. The research findings not only provide deep insights into the direction-related dynamic characteristics of TLCD-type devices but also offer important guidance for the selection and design of TLCDs in engineering practice.