Caspian Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 2(AICCE'12 & GIZ' 12), pp.

251-255, 2013
Available online at http://www.cjasr.com
ISSN: 2251-9114, 2012 CJASR

AWAM International Conference on Civil Engineering & Geohazard Information Zonation

The Performance of TLD in Displacement Response Reduction of Structure

under Harmonic Analysis
Hossein Shad1*, Azlan Adnan2
1.

2.

PhD student, Faculty of Civil Engineering University Technology Malaysia, Malaysia,

shossein3@live.utm.my
Professor Dr. AZLAN ADNAN, Faculty of Civil Engineering University Technology
Malaysia, Malaysia, azelan_fka_utm@yahoo.com
(*Corresponding Author: shossein3@live.utm.my)

Among passive controlling systems, tuned liquid damper (TLD) is a device that many researchers have
investigated on its applications and effectiveness in three previous decades. TLDs in comparison with other
controlling systems have many advantages such as the low cost in maintenance and simple installation. In this
paper, several TLD models were simulated by finite element software in order to identify the role of a TLD in
decreasing structure displacement response under a harmonic analysis. The methodology of this paper is divided
into three parts. First, the fundamental frequency of each model was calculated numerically. In this study
Housner formula was used in order to calculate the first sloshing frequencies of TLDs. Then, all of TLDs alone
and attached to the structure were simulated in software. At the end, displacements response and frequencies of
structures were recorded and results obtained were compared with each other. The output of the software about
natural frequency showed that has good compatibility with the numerical method. It is concluded that, TLDs
tuned with fundamental frequency of structure could reduce the structure displacement response.
Key word: Harmonic Analysis; Fundamental Frequency; Displacement Response.

tank were used for analyzing of numerical and it

was presented experimentally on a cantilever beam
(Bauer, 1984). In other research stochastic
response of structures with fluid was investigated
(Kareem and Sun, 1987). In this research, a
secondary system was applied by a liquid tank that
was modeled as an equivalent multi- degree of
freedom structure system. Also, the combined
system was propounded to a non stationary
excitation due to earthquake and wind. Fujino et al
were carried out a study on tuned liquid damper
(TLD) suppressing horizontal motion of structures.
They applied a rigid tank with shallow liquid for
changing the dynamic characteristics of structure
and TLD under a vibration and presented a model
for TLD. This numerical study was validated by an
experiment work (Fig1) (Fujino et al, 1992). One
of the best done researches on TLD is modeling of
tuned liquid damper (TLD) that was done by Sun
et al. They presented a simple TLD model that was
based on the shallow water wave. In this research it
was specified that the damping of liquid sloshing
is the most important factor among other
parameters of TLD. Also, researchers concluded
that usage of water can impress less than other

1. INTRODUCTION
The influence of earthquake and wind on the
structures has always been one of the most
important civil engineering apprehensions.
Researchers have attempted to solve the weakness
of structures against these events in the all of world
using the different methods. For this purpose, the
different systems and devices have been used for
retrofitting structures and reducing earthquake
damages. Among systems studied and applied, we
can indicate to the passive, semi-active, and active
controlling systems. In these systems, TLD (tuned
liquid damper) is defined as a device to decrease
dynamic energy in structures during the events
such as earthquake. TLD is a rectangular or
cylindrical tank filled with shallow liquid usually
water as a device with passive controlling system.
This damper has several advantages such as the
low cost in maintenance and simple installation.
Many investigations on performance and
effectiveness of TLD were carried out in recent
decades. Bauer studied oscillations of immiscible
liquids in a rectangular container. In this study two
liquids with the different densities in a rectangular

251

Shad et al.
The Performance of TLD in Displacement Response Reduction of Structures under Harmonic Analysis

Fig 1. Experimental apparatus and TLD tank

liquid with more viscosity in damping amount

(Sun et al, 1992).Yu in his PhD thesis investigated
the behavior of TLD experimentally and
analytically to identify the underlying physical
phenomenon of liquid sloping. In these researches,
three different rectangular and cylindrical tanks
were studied. In order to identify parameters, a
shaking table was used. In addition, time history
response of sloshing water motion was considered
for rectangular tank with various length and depth.
Furthermore, different amounts of depth of water
were considered for different frequencies and
amplitudes (Yu, 1997). Osterman studied the
behavior of TLD both experimentally and with an
analytical solution. This research was carried out
on a small model experimentally and was
compared to an analytical solution. This study was
done on shaking table with a TLD attached to a
concrete plate. In analytical way, equations related
to model were solved then results obtained from
two ways were compared. The results of this study
showed that natural frequency of a TLD could
adapt to TMD (Osterman, 2009). The last research
that was mentioned in this study is the performance
of structure-tuned liquid damper systems with
different tank geometries. In recent study a
mechanical model was applied in order to assess
performance of rectangular, horizontal and vertical
cylindrical tanks under small excitation amplitude.
These dampers were installed on top of structures
and it was assumed that the effective mass and
natural frequency of TLDs is constant. This study
showed that the efficiency of horizontal cylindrical
TLD is better than other models (Housner, 1963).
It has been clearly seen that, all of the research
done is almost experimentally, analytically or both
together but the finite element software especially
ANSYS software has not applied more. This paper
will simulate several TLD models in ANSYS
software and the effectiveness TLD in response
reduction of structures will be assessed under
harmonic analysis.

2.

METHODOLOGY OF STUDY

In this paper, researchers applied finite element

software namely ANSYS in order to assess to role
of TLD in reduction of structure displacement
response. Models considered, were based on an
experimental study but models were simulated as 2
dimensions for simplifying. First, the natural
frequency of structure and TLDs were calculated
numerically by related formulas and ANSYS
software. Next, the structure with different TLDs
attached to it was modeled in ANSYS software and
the all of models were analyzed as harmonic force
with constant amplitude 100 KN. The properties of
models and calculations are as follows:
The structure assumed included a fundamental
frequency and different TLDs with different
frequencies. In addition, TLDs were located on top
of structure. TLDs were shaped of a rectangular
tank with different water depths (Table 1).
The details of TLD are 2D rectangular tank of
plan size 0.2 m and 0.5 m height and the one-story
structure as 2D frame with height of story 1 m and
span 0.8 m. The cross section of columns and
beam was a bar steel with diameter 0.012 m. The
elasticity module of steel and balk module of
water is 2.1e11 and 2.15e9 pa respectively. The
elements considered in ANSYS were plane 42,
beam 3, link 1, mass 21, and fluid 79. The mass of
all of structure was 77.5 kilograms without TLD. K
stiffness of structure is equal to 5310 N/m and
natural frequency of structure and the first sloshing
frequency of TLDs were calculated based on
equations 1 and 2 respectively. The structures with
TLD were modeled by ANSYS software (Fig 2).
Fundamental frequency of structure without TLD:
fS=

(1)

f S = 1.317 Hz (Model 1: structure without TLD)

252

Caspian Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 2(AICCE'12 & GIZ' 12), pp. 251-255, 2013

Housner formula [7],

Rectangular tank f TLD=
(h = height of water, L = 0.2 m)

3.

obtained from software are close to Housner

formula (Table 2).
The displacement response of the models
obtained from harmonic analysis by software
(Fig 3 and 4)
As shown in Fig 3, the displacement peak of
each model is in excitation point of structure and
the fundamental frequency of structure with and
without TLD is around 1.30 Hz. The most of
displacement was related to model 1 (structure
without TLD) with 0.0478 m and the least of
displacement was in the model 2 (structure with
TLD and high of water 0.03m) with 0.0183 m.
Displacement of other models was close together
and was almost equal 0.0435 m (Fig 4).

(2)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The results obtained from ANSYS software

showed variation of structure displacement of
models with constant amplitudes and different
frequencies that were divided into 60 steps
between 1 and 1.6 Hz and the modal and harmonic
analysis were conducted for all models. The results
of modal analysis indicated that frequencies

Table 1. Properties and fundamental frequencies of sloshing water

NO
Structur
e with
TLD

No
TLD

Height
of
water
(m)

Wate
r
mass
(kg)
0.6
1.2
1.8
2.4

Fundamenta
l
frequency of
structure
with TLD
(Hz)
1.308
1.303
1.298
1.293

TLD
Fundamenta
l frequency
Based on
formula(Hz)
1.317
1.704
1.870
1.938

=
mw/m
s (%)

=
f TLD/f
s

=
h/L

Model
1
0.0
.77
1.00
0.1
2
3
7
5
Model
2
0.0
1.54
1.30
0.3
3
6
3
Model
3
0.0
2.32
1.44
0.4
4
9
1
5
Model
4
0.1
3.1
1.49
0.6
2
9
The5amplitude of harmonic
load was 100 N and models were analyzed by harmonic in software
between 1

and 1.6 Hz. The load was applied to node 3th of structure and the displacement was calculated in the same
node.

Fig 2. 2D structure with TLD

253

Shad et al.
The Performance of TLD in Displacement Response Reduction of Structures under Harmonic Analysis

Table 2: Fundamental frequency TLD and 2D frame with TLD based on formula and
ANSYS software
TLD
Fundamental
frequency Based
on ANSYS(Hz)

No
TLD

TLD
Fundamental
frequency Based
on formula(Hz)

No
structure
with TLD

Frequency of
Structure with
TLD based on
ANSYS(Hz)

Frequency of
Structure with
TLD based On
Formula (Hz)

Model 1

1.31

1.317

1.316

1.317

Model 2

1.31

1.308

1.696

1.704

Model 3

1.30

1.303

1.866

1.870

Model 4

1.29

1.298

1.935

1.938

Model 5

1.29

1.293

Fig 3: The amount of displacement between frequencies of 1 and 1.6 Hz for all of models

Fig 4: Displacement of story top with and without TLD

254

Caspian Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 2(AICCE'12 & GIZ' 12), pp. 251-255, 2013

4.

Damper for Excited Structures, Journal of

Sound and Vibration (1984) 93(l), 117-133
Fujino Y et al. (1992). Tuned Liquid Damper
(TLD) for Suppressing Horizontal Motion of
Structures,
Journal
of
Engineering
Mechanics, Vol. 118, No. 10, October, 1992.
Housner G.W (1963). Dynamic analysis of fluids
in containers subjected to acceleration,
Nuclear Reactors and Earthquakes, Report
No. TID 7024, U.
Kareem A, Sun W. J (1987). Stochastic Response
of Structures with Fluid-Containing
Appendages, Journal of Sound and
Vibration, 119(3), 389-408.
Osterman D (2009). The Behavior of Tuned Liquid
Dampers Experiment and Analytical
Solution, TCLEE 2009: Lifeline Earthquake
Engineering in a Multi hazard Environment,
pp. 1504-1512.
Sun L. M et al. (1992). Modeling of Tuned Liquid
Damper (TLD), Journal of Wind
Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics,
41-44, 1883-1894.
Yu J. K (1997). Nonlinear Characteristics of Tuned
Liquid Dampers, Thesis (PhD), University
of Washington.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we concluded when the frequency of

TLD is tuned with structure; the TLD can have the
effective role in reduction of structure
displacement response. In addition, with increasing
the mass ratio and natural frequency of TLD to
structure, the performance of TLD falls. This study
showed that ANSYS software could consider the
reaction between solid and fluid as well. As in
Table 2 was seen frequency calculated by formula
is very close to ANSYS results.
5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors would like to thank the Ministry of

Science, Technology & Innovation and University
of Technology of Malaysia for supporting the
research and to the Mechanic and Civil
Engineering Faculties for preparing the facilities
such as software and lab.
REFERENCES
Bauer H. F (1984). Oscillations of Immiscible
Liquid in a Rectangular Container: A New

255