Seismic performance assessment of inerter-based damping systems for structural vibration control – a comprehensive review

Abstract

Devastating earthquakes across the globe have exposed the vulnerability of civil infrastructure, resulting in severe structural collapse, significant casualties, economic losses, and enduring societal impacts. These incidents emphasize the need for advanced seismic protection strategies capable of strengthening structural resilience and minimizing earthquake-induced damage. Among the various passive vibration control technologies currently available, inerter-based damping systems have gained considerable attention as a promising solution owing to their capacity to significantly amplify inertial effects while requiring minimal physical mass. Such systems offer greater tuning flexibility, improved space efficiency, and enhanced seismic response mitigation, ultimately contributing to more efficient structural control strategies. Although a wide range of analytical, numerical, and experimental investigations have demonstrated that well-optimized inerter-based dampers can effectively lower the seismic response of structures, research dedicated to performance-oriented evaluation remains limited. This review systematically examines the diverse inerter configurations adopted across different structural systems, along with studies addressing the seismic performance assessment of structures incorporating inerter-based dampers. It critically evaluates the range of performance metrics used to characterize these damping systems. The results indicate a progressive shift from conventional response-based approaches to more holistic performance-based assessment frameworks. However, the reviewed studies also identified important limitations, including sensitivity to ground motion characteristics, device configuration, and limited large-scale experimental validation. The review concludes by identifying existing research gaps and outlining future directions, providing a valuable resource for researchers engaged in the design and evaluation of advanced inerter-based damping systems.