PurposeTuned　liquid　damper　(TLD)　has　deficiencies　including　high　water　use,　low　effective　damping,　and　ineffective　vibration　control.　Its　damping　ratio　and　vibration　control　performance　need　to　be　improved,　and　lightweight　design　also　needs　to　be　realized.MethodsA　novel　tuned　liquid　inerter　damper　(TLID),　which　combines　a　rack　and　gears　inerter　device　with　a　TLD,　is　proposed.　The　theoretical　mechanical　model　of　TLID　is　established　and　its　damping　mechanisms　are　analyzed.　The　parameters　for　performance　evaluation　and　the　TLID　optimization　design　procedure　based　on　the　time　domain　and　frequency　domain　are　presented　respectively.ResultsShaking　table　tests　and　theoretical　analyses　show　that　the　combination　of　an　inerter　device　and　TLD　can　enhance　the　liquid　sloshing　in　the　tank,　increase　its　apparent　mass　and　actual　damping　value,　and　a　better　damping　control　effect　can　be　obtained.ConclusionIn　comparison　to　the　traditional　TLD,　TLID　can　achieve　the　goal　of　lightweight　design　and　effective　structural　damping　capacity　that　is　superior　to　that　of　the　traditional　TLD　with　a　smaller　fluid　mass　ratio.　The　difference　in　damping　performance　between　TLID　and　tuned　mass　inerter　system　(TMIS)　is　not　significant,　i.e.,　the　choice　of　liquid　as　the　mass　element　is　also　a　suitable　solution　in　practical　engineering,　which　provides　a　positive　idea　for　diversified　engineering　applications.