Risk-informed optimization of the tuned mass-damper-inerter (TMDI) for the seismic protection of multi-storey building structures

The tuned mass-damper-inerter (TMDI) is a recently proposed passive vibration suppression device that couples the classical tuned mass-damper (TMD), comprising a secondary mass attached to the structure via a spring and dashpot, with an inerter. The latter is a two-terminal mechanical device developing a resisting force proportional to the relative acceleration of its terminals by the “inertance” constant. In a number of previous studies, optimally tuned TMDIs have been shown to outperform TMDs in mitigating earthquake-induced vibrations in building structures for the same pre-specified secondary mass. TMDI design in these studies involved simplified modeling assumptions, such as adopting a single performance objective and/or modeling seismic excitation as stationary stochastic process. This paper extends these efforts by examining a risk-informed TMDI optimization, adopting multiple objectives and using response history analysis and probabilistic life-cycle criteria to quantify performance. The first performance criterion, representing overall direct benefits, is the life-cycle cost of the system, composed of the upfront TMDI cost and the anticipated seismic losses over the lifetime of the structure. The second performance criterion, introducing risk-aversion attitudes into the design process, is the repair cost with a specific return period (i.e., probability of exceedance over the lifetime of the structure). The third performance criterion, accounting for practical constraints associated with the size of the inerter and its connection to the structure, is the inerter force with a specific return period. A particular variant of the design problem is also examined by combining the first and third performance criteria/objectives. A case study involving a 21- storey building constructed in Santiago, Chile shows that optimal TMDI configurations can accomplish simultaneous reduction of life-cycle and repair costs. However, these cost reductions come at the expense of increased inerter forces. It is further shown that connecting the inerter to lower floors provides considerable benefits across all examined performance criteria as the inerter is engaged in a more efficient way for the same inerter coefficient and attached mass ratios