Inerter-based vibrating barrier for seismic protection of a cluster of building structures

Project Information

VIBRATIONCLEAR

Grant agreement ID: 101153525

DOI

10.3030/101153525

Project terminated on 31 January 2026

EC signature date 7 May 2024

Start date 1 May 2025

End date 30 April 2027

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 188 590,08

Coordinated by

POLITECNICO DI TORINO
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VIBRATIONCLEAR (Inerter-based vibrating barrier for seismic protection of a cluster of building structures)

Reporting period: 2025-05-01 to 2027-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Earthquakes are among the deadliest and most costly natural hazards. In Europe, they have caused over 200,000 deaths and at least 250 billion euros in damages during the 20th century. In Italy alone, more than 400 destructive earthquakes have been documented. More recently, the 2016 Central Italy earthquake resulted in 297 fatalities and caused damages exceeding 4 billion euros. VIBRATIONCLEAR proposes the use of inerter-based vibrating barrier (I-ViBA) for earthquake protection of a cluster of building structures. Unlike existing earthquake protection technologies, the I-ViBA is unique because it is buried in the ground and tuned to protect surrounding structures without being directly in contact to them through a structure-soil-structure interaction (SSSI) mechanism. This makes the I-ViBA a potentially low-cost and scalable solution, capable of protecting multiple structures simultaneously—an approach not previously explored. The VIBRATIONCLEAR project sets two key objectives: (1) to propose and optimise the design of the novel I-ViBA system; and (2) to conduct comprehensive 2D and 3D numerical simulations using finite element analysis in realistic scenarios involving multiple I-ViBAs and clusters of buildings. By combining analytical and numerical methods, the I-ViBA will be accurately designed, modelled, and simulated under various earthquake ground motions. Ultimately, the project aims to deliver an effective and affordable seismic protection technology that can help safeguard buildings and save lives during earthquakes.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project was implemented for 9 months (1 May 2025 to 31 January 2026) of the originally planned 24-month duration, following the researcher’s acceptance of a permanent lectureship position. This outcome is fully aligned with the objectives and spirit of the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship, which seeks to enhance researchers’ career development and employability through advanced training and international mobility. The researcher’s transition into a permanent academic position demonstrates the effectiveness of the fellowship in strengthening career prospects and facilitating progression into stable, long-term roles. The fellowship has therefore successfully contributed to the researcher’s professional development and integration into the European research and higher education landscape.

During the 9-month period, the project successfully achieved the objectives planned for this phase, delivering meaningful contributions to current knowledge, technological advancement, and societal impact. Progress remained closely aligned with the work plan for the first nine months. The project resulted in the development of three novel types of inerter-based vibration barriers (I-ViBa), representing a meaningful advancement in this area of research. The proposed novel I-ViBa systems have demonstrated comparable, and in some cases superior, performance to existing I-ViBa configurations in protecting building structures from earthquake ground motions. These findings highlight strong potential for the further development of I-ViBa technology, particularly given its unique advantage of protecting existing structures without direct intervention in the structural system, as the devices are installed in the surrounding ground. The results also indicate that the incorporation of an inerter can significantly reduce the mass requirements of the I-ViBa system. However, an optimal inertance value exists, beyond which further increases do not improve structural response and may, in fact, lead to performance deterioration. This key finding is documented in a manuscript currently under review in a journal, following first-round revisions.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project has made strong progress towards delivering its intended scientific impact, primarily through the successful execution of Work Package 1 (WP1). The key scientific achievement is the development of three novel analytical models of I-ViBa for seismic protection of structures. The performance of the proposed models has been evaluated through numerical simulations for single-structure applications, confirming their effectiveness in mitigating structural responses under dynamic loading. Findings from WP1 further demonstrate that the inertance of the I-ViBa systems should be optimised rather than treated as a fixed parameter. In addition, the newly proposed I-ViBa configurations incorporating a parallel inerter–damper arrangement exhibits reduced damping demand compared to existing models. Collectively, these developments strengthen both the theoretical foundations and the practical design capabilities of inerter-based systems in structural and earthquake engineering.

From an impact perspective, these results have the potential to significantly enhance seismic resilience in the built environment by enabling more efficient and adaptable vibration control strategies. The introduction of new analytical models increases design flexibility and allows engineers to tailor solutions to different structural typologies and performance objectives. Furthermore, the reduction in damping requirements may translate into more cost-effective and implementable solutions, improving the feasibility of real-world adoption.

To ensure further uptake and maximise impact, additional research and large-scale validation, particularly through experimental testing and multi-structure case studies, will be essential to demonstrate robustness and reliability under realistic conditions. Furthermore, demonstration projects and pilot implementations will be important to bridge the gap between numerical validation and practical deployment. In parallel, access to finance and innovation support mechanisms will be required to scale the technology beyond the research phase. Internationalisation opportunities exist, especially in regions with high seismic risk, where the proposed solutions could address pressing resilience challenges. Finally, alignment with regulatory frameworks and standardisation efforts will be critical. The integration of inerter-based systems into design codes and guidelines will require further evidence, consensus-building, and collaboration with standardisation bodies. Addressing these aspects will be key to enabling widespread adoption and long-term impact.

Overall, the project has delivered substantial advancements in inerter-based seismic protection, establishing a strong foundation for future research, development, and real-world implementation.