This study proposes a method to improve the seismic performance of a stacked stone pagoda by applying a Ball Vibration Absorber (BVA) with a non-fixed connection. The governing equations of motion were derived by analyzing the structure's primary failure mode under seismic excitation and sliding behavior, and a numerical model was constructed. To verify the model's reliability, a shaking table experiment with a two-layer rectangular block structure was conducted, and the experimental results were compared with numerical simulations. Based on the validated numerical model, both artificial and real earthquake records were used for parametric analyses to determine the optimal design parameters that maximize the damping efficiency of the BVA system. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, when the difference between the rolling path radius and the ball radius is small, the damping performance of the BVA decreases. Still, this effect becomes negligible once the difference exceeds a certain threshold. Second, when the friction coefficient between the BVA container and the target structure is small, the non-fixed connection type exhibits superior damping performance; as the friction coefficient increases, its performance converges to that of the fixed connection type. Third, the damping performance of the BVA improves significantly as the mass of the ball increases. Fourth, the damping efficiency of the BVA is inversely proportional to the amplitude of seismic acceleration. However, its performance slightly weakens under strong ground motions; it still maintains a stable damping capacity.

The abstract should clearly state the purpose and nature of the investigation while summarizing the key conclusions in English only. It should be a single paragraph consisting of no more than 200 words. This study presents a method to enhance the seismic performance of a stacked stone pagoda by utilizing a Ball Vibration Absorber (BVA). The governing equations of motion for sliding, the primary failure mode of the stacked stone pagoda, were derived, and a numerical model was developed. Through various numerical analyses, the optimal design parameters of the BVA were identified to maximize its seismic control effectiveness for the pagoda. The BVA device can increase the critical seismic acceleration at which the sliding mode occurs in the structure. Moreover, the seismic control performance of the BVA improves with an increase in the mass of the sphere and the coefficient of friction between the layers. Conversely, as the applied seismic acceleration rises, the effectiveness of the BVA in controlling seismic responses diminishes, although a certain level of control effect is maintained. Finally, as long as the sphere of the BVA maintains a specific range of rolling motion, the radius of the sphere or rolling radius does not significantly impacts its seismic control performance.