Peak response of frictional tuned mass dampers optimally designed to white noise base acceleration

Abstract This study investigates the characteristics of stochastic responses of a system having frictional tuned mass dampers (FTMDs) optimally designed to white noise base acceleration. First, with the aim of finding the optimum parameters, a statistical linearization technique is employed, in which a nonlinear force term is replaced with linearized one that is equivalent in a statistical sense. In order to improve accuracy in predicting root-mean-square (RMS) response of FTMD, this study adopted a statistical nonlinearization technique in which original nonlinear system is replaced with other already-solved nonlinear system. A correction factor defined as the ratio of RMS displacements between nonlinear and equivalent linear systems is also proposed together with an explicit formula for the peak response factor. Numerical simulations were conducted to examine the accuracy of the correction and peak factors proposed.