Human-induced vibrations can occur in bridges, buildings, or grandstands, which not only impair the well-being of users but can also cause long-term damage to the structure. Vibration dampers are a proven measure for reducing such vibrations.

A vibration damper consists of a mass, a spring, and a damping element. It is tuned to the natural frequency of the structure so that the vibrations of the supporting structure and the damper cancel each other out. This significantly reduces the vibration amplitudes.

While a single damper can only effectively dampen a specific frequency, multiple vibration dampers rely on a combination of several dampers distributed across the structure. This offers decisive advantages:

• Wider frequency range: Several dampers act simultaneously, making the system more robust against changes in natural frequency.

• Practical construction advantages: Instead of a large damper mass in one place, the required mass can be distributed across several smaller dampers – more flexible and easier to implement in practice.

The effectiveness of multiple vibration dampers depends on their number and position. Too few dampers do not provide sufficient damping, while too many increase effort and costs. This is where research in the field of structural statics and dynamics comes in:

• Analytical methods for calculating optimal damper arrangements

• Experimental investigations on models and structures

• Integration of theory and practice to develop efficient and reliable solutions

The targeted use of multiple vibration dampers can improve user comfort and safety while protecting structures. Our research contributes to putting innovative approaches into practice – for durable and user-friendly structures.