Vibration control using multiple tuned mass dampers

This paper examines multiple tuned mass dampers (TMD’s) with natural frequencies distributed over a frequency range. An integral form for the impedance is developed by asymptotic techniques. The result is used to analyze the vibration control capabilities of multiple TMD’s for structures subjected to wide-band input. Calculus of variations is used to optimize the design of the TMD’s with a constraint on the total mass. It is found that multiple TMD’s can be more effective and more robust than a single TMD with equal total mass.