Design methodologies for controlling vibrations in buildings

Abstract

Although vibration absorbers have been employed in mechanical equipment mounting for over 100 years, they have only recently been used for isolating large-scale structures such as bridges and buildings. Their applications range from acoustic to seismic isolation of structures. Virtually any vibration magnitude can be prevented from degrading the performance of a structure. This thesis is intended to provide a practical introduction to the design and suitability of vibration isolators for various environments. It contains a discussion of the past, present and future of vibration isolation associated with buildings. Analysis and design examples are provided to illustrate the design methodology.