Experimental Investigation of Vibration Control in Timber–Concrete Composite (TCC) Floors Using Tuned Mass Damper

Timber–concrete composite (TCC) floors are gaining popularity in sustainable construction due to their enhanced stiffness and structural efficiency. However, excessive vibrations, particularly those induced by human activity, pose significant challenges to occupant comfort and structural integrity. This study investigates the application of Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs) to mitigate vibrations in TCC floors, with a focus on enhancing damping performance through the incorporation of pre-strained Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) (Kellogg’s Research Labs, New Boston, NH, USA). A novel pre-strained SMA–TMD system was designed and experimentally tested to evaluate its effectiveness in vibration control under various loading conditions. The results demonstrate that pre-straining significantly increases the damping ratio of the SMA–TMD, improving its vibration mitigation capability. Compared to non-pre-strained SMA–TMD, the pre-strained SMA–TMD system exhibited superior adaptability and robustness in reducing floor vibrations, achieving a peak acceleration reduction of up to 49.91%. These findings provide valuable knowledge into the development of advanced damping solutions for timber floors, contributing to the broader application of vibration control strategies in sustainable and high-performance building systems.