Journal of Steel & Structure

Journal of Steel & Structure

Applying the Birds of Prey-Based Optimization Algorithm (BPBO) to Find Optimal Parameters of Tuned Mass Dampers for Seismic Control of Structures

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Habibollah Ahmadi
S.M. Zahrai
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tehran
10.22034/jss.2026.568441.1025
Abstract
In recent years, structural vibration control has received considerable attention as an effective strategy for mitigating seismic responses in buildings. Among various passive control devices, the Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) has emerged as one of proper solutions due to its mechanical simplicity, cost-efficiency, and reliable performance. The effectiveness of a TMD, however, strongly depends on the proper selection of its design parameters, including mass, stiffness, and damping ratio. Determining these optimal parameters remains a critical and challenging task in structural control design. To address this issue, the present study employs the Birds of Prey-Based Optimization (BPBO) algorithm, a recently developed metaheuristic method inspired by the cooperative hunting strategies of predatory birds. The algorithm is applied to optimize the parameters of a TMD installed in a benchmark 10-story shear building model subjected to seismic excitation. Two objective functions are considered: (1) minimizing the maximum roof displacement and (2) minimizing the overall structural drift, quantified using the root mean square (RMS) of peak floor displacements. 
Numerical simulations indicate that the BPBO-optimized TMD achieves significant reductions in structural response. The average displacement reduction reaches approximately 38.3% for the first objective function and 38.5% for the second. In addition, the maximum roof displacement decreases by 36.5% and 36.4%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the BPBO algorithm in identifying optimal TMD parameters and highlight its potential as a competitive optimization tool for seismic vibration control applications. The convergence analysis further confirms the algorithm’s efficiency and reliability in solving nonlinear structural optimization problems.
Keywords
Passive Control
Tuned Mass Damper
Metaheuristic Algorithms
Birds of Prey-Based Optimization Algorithm
Control of Vibration
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 24 December 2025
  • Revise Date 16 March 2026
  • Accept Date 30 April 2026
  • First Publish Date 30 April 2026
  • Publish Date 22 December 2025