Performance-based optimization of nonlinear Friction-Folded PTMDs of structures subjected to stochastic excitation

Alternative Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) configurations have been proposed in the literature for performance improvement and maintenance, mainly modifying their restoring force or dissipation mechanisms. In this context, Folded-Pendulum TMDs (FPTMDs) are appealing for tuning low-frequency structures because they are compact and easy to retune while avoiding sliding mechanisms. In turn, Friction Dampers (FDs) are equally attractive due to their minimal maintenance and easy desired capacity adjustment. Nevertheless, despite recent advances in integrating FDs with PTMDs, a comprehensive literature survey reveals that Reliability -Based Design Optimization (RBDO) studies for PTMDs or Folded-PTMDs with FDs cannot be found to the best of the authors' knowledge. Hence, the present paper aims at performing an original RBDO of single and multiple Friction-Folded-PTMDs in buildings subjected to stochastic excitation. Unlike the existing optimization studies in this field, a complete nonlinear description (dry friction plus large rotations) is employed because the considered applications involve high-intensity excitations, like wind and seismic loading. Finally, scenarios with multiple absorbers are included due to their associated performance and constructional advantages. Optimal design of multiple Folded-PTMDs with FDs has not yet been addressed, as they increase the optimization problem complexity leading to multimodal and convex objective functions. Accordingly, an active-learning Kriging-based Efficient Global Optimization (EGO) procedure is used, which allows for finding the optimum solutions with only a few objective function evaluations. The application cases to two distinct buildings subject to wind and seismic loadings show that using Friction-FPTMDs allows for obtaining a control strategy with an appropriate performance while ensuring practical advantages over classical TMDs.