Optimization Damping of Viscous Dampers to Prevent Collisions Between Adjacent Structures with Unequal Heights as a Case Study

Currently, construction is very dense especially in city centers, and adjacent structures are generally preferred in areas where available land is scarce. These structures often have different heights and are generally constructed without a structural connection to each other. Since adjacent structures may have different dynamic characteristics, collisions may occur when the structures contact each other under earthquake effects. Therefore, this study investigated the optimum values of viscous dampers placed between adjacent structures of unequal height to prevent collisions under different earthquake effects. In the optimization problem determined, the objective function was selected to minimize the total damping coefficient of viscous dampers added to the stories. A new algorithm utilizing numerical optimization methods to find the values of dampers between the structures was introduced to avoid collisions between adjacent structures of different heights. Structural models were used to examine the effects of variations in the height ratios of the structures, the value of damping from the viscous dampers on each floor, the vibration mode of the structures and the values of relative displacement. The proposed method showed that when viscous dampers were optimally placed between adjacent buildings of different heights, the relative displacements under earthquake impacts could be reduced below a target value, thereby avoiding the risk of collisions.