Simultaneous optimization of structure together with attached tuned mass dampers considering dynamic performance

Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs) are often attached to a main structure to reduce vibration, and the TMDs’ positions are important to affect the structural dynamic performance. However, the TMDs’ positions and the material layout of the structure act on each other. This paper suggests a design optimization method by combining the topology optimization of the main structure and the layout of the attached TMDs under harmonic excitations. The main structure with the attached TMDs are modeled by the continuum FEA method to consider the change of TMDs’ locations. Then they are optimized simultaneously by introducing a multi-level optimization frame, which includes the structural topology optimization and the optimal tuning of TMDs. The locations and damping parameters of TMDs are optimized in every step of the SIMP-based topology optimization of the main structure, so as to fully consider the interactions between each other to improve the dynamic performance. Numerical examples of cantilever structures are studied, and the results show that when the main structure and TMDs are optimized simultaneously, the modal strain energy is more concentrated compared with that obtained by the non-simultaneous optimization approach. Therefore, the dynamic compliance of the target mode is dramatically reduced.