Antonina Pirrotta
University of Palermo, Italy
Presenting in Track 8: Dynamics, Vibration and Control
Presentation Title: Next-Generation Tuned Liquid Column Dampers: Innovations in Modeling and Technology
Abstract: Among passive vibration control systems, Tuned Liquid Column Damper (TLCD) is of great interest for some of its characteristics such as easy implementation, low cost of construction and maintenance, no need to add mass to the structure if the liquid is used as water supply, as well as control performance comparable to other passive control devices.
Although the increasing use of these devices for structural vibration control, it is shown that existing model does not always lead to accurate prediction of the liquid motion.
In this talk, a different formulation of the equation of motion of the TLCD liquid displacement is presented, taking advantage of the fractional derivative and its properties. Experimental validation of the predicted behaviour is fully developed in frequency and time domain as well.
Moreover, due to the inherent long-period nature of TLCDs, early investigations focused mainly on the application of these devices in flexible structures such as tall and slender structures, which are characterized by high natural periods and are highly prone to wind-induced vibrations, However, seismic excitations encompass a broader frequency bandwidth, rich in high-frequency content compared to wind-induced vibrations, which can be potentially hazardous to both flexible and stiff structures. Tuning the TLCD to match the shorter periods of such structures presents challenges in achieving feasible lengths of the TLCD column tube. The need to tune the TLCD frequency to match the frequency of the structure further limits its application to stiffer structural configurations.
In this talk it will be introduced how to extend their utility to short-period structures.
Biography: Antonina Pirrotta is a Full Professor in Structural Mechanics at the University of Palermo, Italy.
She, graduated in Civil Engineering from Palermo University in 1987. Firstly for 6 years she worked as freelance structural engineer, then has done PhD in Structural Engineering in 1996 and as Post-doctoral studies in 1998. In 2000, she became a Researcher, in 2001 Associate Professor and in 2016 Full Professor in Engineering department at the University of Palermo, Italy.
- HEAD of PhD School of University of Palermo from 2023
- EAD of CIDIS from 2021
- Board of Governors of ASCE (EMI) 2021-2024 (exceptionally renewed every year)
Her achievements resulted in many scientific recognitions and awards, which include the appointment as Chair of IDEA Innovative Dynamics Experiments Association (2022), several fellowships, memberships on scientific committees of various key international conferences, a membership on the Advisory Board of the MSCA COFUND Doctoral Programme at the University of Innsbruck, and many invitations as plenary speaker at several international conferences.
Prof. Pirrotta has organized and co-organized an exceptionally large number of international conferences, the last EMI2023International Conference organized at University of Palermo and for what she received the appreciation award, minisymposia, and summer schools in Italy and all over the world. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Engineering Mechanics (ASCE), (first professor with Italian affiliation) and of Meccanica, which are two absolute top journals in the field. Additionally, she is a member of the Editorial Board of various international scientific journals. She was a Visiting Professor at many universities all over the world such as Tongji University, Columbia University, Liverpool University, TU Wien, etc. With over 180 published papers, she is a leading researcher in the field of structural mechanics and collaborates with renowned institutions worldwide.
Prof. Antonina Pirrotta 's contributions and leadership have made her a notable figure in Structural Mechanics and a role model for women in science.
AWARDS
- Member of the Academic Committee of the Joint Laboratory of International Coperation on Structural Mechanics of Composite Materials for Electronic Devices, Xidian University, China, 2025-2028.
- 025 The Aftab Mufti Medal Best Paper Award. A. Di Matteo, D. Fiandaca, A. Pirrotta; "Smartphone-based bridge monitoring through vehicle–bridge interaction: analysis and experimental assessment" Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring (2022) 12:1329–1342; in SHMII'13 Conference, September 1 to 5, 2025 in Graz, Austria.
- 2024 Global WIIN (Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network) Exemplary Special Recognition Award October 2024, for tenacity and Innovative Achievements.
- 2024 Certificate of Appreciation for dedication and service as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Engineering Mechanics Institute 2021-2024.
- 2023 ITWIIN : the Higher Education Award for the notable commitment to higher education activities, in the national and international academic context, and for having shown a high capacity for disseminating scientific knowledge in dissemination and collaboration initiatives.
- 2023 Appreciation award for outstanding service and dedication as Chair of the EMI2023International Conference at the University of Palermo, Italy August 27-30, 2023.
- 2020 First EASD SENIOR RESEARCH PRIZE in the area of DEVELOPMENT OF METHODOLOGIES FOR STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, for her important contributions in the fields of passive control, multi-body systems, continuum mechanics, stochastic mechanics, health monitoring, (first European woman).
- 2020 Research Prize "Francesco Carbone Experimenta".