Tuned mass dampers for human-induced vibration control of the Expo Culture Centre at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China

The Expo Culture Centre is one of the permanent buildings at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. The main structure has an oval shape and consists of 36 radial cantilever steel trusses with different lengths and inner frames made of concrete-filled rectangular steel tube members. Tuned mass dampers are used to reduce the excessive vibrations of the sixth floor that are caused by human-induced resonance. A three-dimensional analytical model of the system is developed, and its main characteristics are established. A series of field tests are performed on the structure, and the test results show that the vertical vibration frequencies of most structural cantilevers are between 2.5 Hz and 3.5 Hz, which falls in the range of human-induced vibration. Twelve pairs of tuned mass dampers weighing 115 tons total were installed in the structure to suppress the vibration response of the system. These mass dampers were tuned to the vertical vibration frequency of the structure, which had the highest possibility of excitation. Test data obtained after the installation of the tuned mass dampers are used to evaluate their effectiveness for the reduction of the vibration acceleration. An analytical model of the structure is calibrated according to the measured dynamic characteristics. An analysis of the modified model is performed and the results show that when people walk normally, the structural vibration was low and the tuned mass dampers have no effect, but when people run at the structural vibration frequency, the tuned mass dampers can reduce the floor vibration acceleration by approximately 15%.