Investigation and optimization of a pre‐stressed tuned mass damper for wind turbine tower

With the development of megawatts wind turbines, excessive vibrations of the flexible and slender wind turbine tower under wind excitation have become increasingly prominent. To enhance implement ability of the passive control device for the tower, a new type of passive pre-stressed tuned mass damper (PS-TMD) is proposed in this study. A simplified mechanical calculation model of the tower with the PS-TMD device is established, and the dynamic coefficient and vibration reduction mechanism are deduced through theoretical analysis. And then the design procedure including the optimal pre-stress and damping coefficient for the proposed device is presented. The numerical simulation example shows that the tuning effect of PS-TMD is better than the traditional tuned mass damper under the same conditions. The results from a shaking table test demonstrate that acceleration and dynamic displacement response are reduced about 20% and 30%, respectively.