Finding optimal parameters of tuned mass dampers

Summary In this paper, optimum design of tuned mass damper for seismically excited structures is discussed. In the design process, a benchmark multi‐degree of freedom system is considered, and the performance measure of the optimization criterion is selected as the H 2 and H ∞ norms of the transfer function of the combined tuned mass damper and building system. Differential evolution algorithm is then utilized to minimize these objective functions. The objective function choice on performance and the effectiveness of differential evolution optimization algorithm in comparison with other algorithms in the literature are investigated through numerical simulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.