Two-Pendulum Structural Damper for Low-Space Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional structural dampers for slender structures, such as high-rise buildings and wind turbines, require significant installation space and are costly due to their complex and space-intensive designs, which limits their effectiveness in reducing vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A compact structural damper design featuring a first pendulum mass and a second pendulum mass coupled by a damping device and a coupling device that allows angled relative movement, eliminating the need for extensive mounting between the pendulum masses and the structure, thereby reducing installation height and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional TMD designs with damping elements and spring elements arranged between pendulum mass and structure are used, then vibration damping effectiveness is achieved, but installation space and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the damping element and spring element into a single integrated device disposed between the first and second pendulum masses. This combination eliminates the need for separate mounting of damping and spring elements between the pendulum mass and structure, thereby reducing installation space and device complexity while maintaining vibration damping effectiveness through the coupled pendulum system.
2Reliability
If damping elements and spring elements are installed horizontally between TMD mass and structure, then proper damping and frequency tuning are achieved, but installation height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal arrangement of damping and spring elements to a vertical configuration by stacking the first and second pendulum masses vertically with the damping and spring elements disposed between them. This dimensional change allows the same functional elements to be arranged in the vertical direction rather than horizontal, thereby reducing installation height while maintaining proper damping and frequency tuning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the single pendulum mass into two separate pendulum masses (first and second) arranged vertically, with the damping element and spring element distributed between them. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the required damping and frequency tuning functions through multiple smaller components arranged in space-efficient configuration, reducing overall installation height compared to a single large pendulum mass requiring horizontal element placement.
3Reliability
If compound TMD with inverted pendulum and suspended pendulum masses are used, then natural frequency can be reduced to very low values, but device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the inverted pendulum and suspended pendulum mass concepts into a unified two-mass system where the first and second pendulum masses are coupled vertically through damping and spring elements. This merged configuration achieves low natural frequency adjustment capability while eliminating the need for separate compound TMD mechanisms, thereby reducing structural complexity compared to traditional compound TMD designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compact design effectively dampens vibrations with reduced installation space, maintaining reliability and optimal damping behavior while adjusting natural frequencies to specific requirements, making it suitable for narrow structures like wind turbines and high-rise buildings.
Implementation Method 1
a damping device (6) disposed between the first pendulum mass (3a) and the second pendulum mass (4a) and configured to damp relative motion in the direction of motion between the first pendulum mass (3a) and the second pendulum mass (4a)
Implementation Method 2
Slender structures such as high-rise buildings (residential use, office use, hotel use) or other slender structures (wind turbines, observation towers, etc.) are excited to horizontal vibrations by wind excitation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a structural damper 1 for protecting structures against vibrations, comprising a first pendulum 3 having a first pendulum mass 3a, a second pendulum 4 having a second pendulum mass 4a, a coupling device 5 and a damping device 6. The coupling device 5 is disposed between the first pendulum mass 3a and the second pendulum mass 4a, and is configured to couple the first pendulum mass 3a to the second pendulum mass 4a in an effective direction of the structural damper 1 and to allow relative movement between the first pendulum mass 3a and the second pendulum mass 4a in a direction of movement angled with respect to the effective direction. The damping device 6 is disposed between the first pendulum mass 3a and the second pendulum mass 4a, and is configured to damp relative movement in the direction of movement between the first pendulum mass 3a and the second pendulum mass 4a.