How a Giant Pendulum Made Taipei101 Possible!

This video explains the clever design solution that engineers employ in the design of high-rise buildings. Usually, high-rise structures resist lateral loads via steel frames, shear cores, or braced steel beams. Sometimes, these systems are not enough and engineers have to resort to other options. The video starts with a generic description of the forces experienced by a skyscraper with the main focus cast on wind loads. Furthermore, the video discusses the aerodynamic features of a building and tricks that reduce the applied wind loads. Lastly, the video explains the use of a tuned mass damper that damps out particular frequencies of the building resulting in a decreased sway of the building.

References:

[1] ACI SP-97, "Analysis and Design of High-Rise Concrete Buildings," USA, 1989.
[2] D. Bennett, Skyscrapers: Form & Function, New York: Simon & Schuster Ltd., 1995.
[3] M. H. Günel and H. E. Ilgin, Tall Buildings Structural Systems and Aerodynamic Form, New York: Taylor & Francis Group, 2014.
[4] H. T. Breukelman, J. Robinson and J. Kottelenberg, "Tuned mass dampers under excessive structural excitation," Motioneer-ing Inc., Guelph, Ontario, 2003.

[ChrisMildwater]

I’m a union Carpenter and have worked on many high rise buildings and I’m fascinated by the tuned mass damper, and would have really enjoyed being at the top when the earthquake happened. The video was easy to understand and the illustrations were helpful to visualize the engineering principles involved. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the videos you produce. Thank you !

[JohnSmith-kffc]

Im a retired carpenter and this content was very easily understandable for me. Ive always loved science but i get lost if videos are orientated towards high level academics like videos of conferences on very specific science topics. Your videos could be twice as long and complicated and id still be able to follow.

That being said, great video you earn my sub and full bell notifications :)

[MynameisLuk]

Im here because I saw a video of the damper in action a few weeks ago (Taiwan earthquake). And when I saw it I immediately thought how heavy it must be and how they got it up there. But in my amateur mind I imagined that it is a hollow ball which then they filled up with lead or something similar. Really fascinating.stuff.

[fahimahmedbhuiyan]

I have no idea how to thank you guys...this explanation is just a gem for civil/structural engineers.❤

[poppy]

Great explanations! Thank you. Technical enough to be not simplistic or dumbed down. Good graphic to accompany the technical part. Two thumbs up!

[gary]

As an engineering student i definitely find this channel more than interesting. Thanks for the content!!

[colvinator]

Very interesting indeed !
Thanks a lot. I can appreciate the technical challenges presented to the structural designers.

[hlbrbck]

I wanted to know and this video was simple enough and technical enough for me to grasp and understand. I also appreciate your ending comments regarding other factors/forces that must be considered. I am not a science/engineer minded person but have a great respect and interest. This video allows me to learn AND understand enough!!

[JoseJimenez-wete]

Excellent, concise and clear video. I look forward to exploring more of your videos.

[duderino]

I’ve just discovered your excellent channel and subscribed immediately. The people who will be interested in watching your explanations will also have some grasp of at least basic physics and math so I 8:23 think you could easily delve into a bit of this. You could even have a few lectures covering basic concepts of structural engineering and materials. I’d love to see them. A good educator does not talk down to the level of his audience, he or she stretches their understanding up. It’s called learning.

[SJR_Media_Group]

Great video... your presentation of complex concepts were delivered in everyday terminology. There was enough information detail to keep engineering geeks like me attentive. I can recall several structures classes in college. We discussed building sway and it's effects on buildings. The primary concern is structural, building has to stand, not collapse. The second concern is motion that might cause a building occupant to literally get sea sick.

I have been in a number of high rises. On several occasions wind did make building sway. The motion was very slow and barely noticeable to the average person. I knew it was swaying because I sighted edge of window frame on a distant object. It appeared as if the distant object was moving, but the object I stood in (high rise) was actually moving.

The poor guys who really have it bad on a windy day are the window washers. I think I'll pass. I'm not afraid of falling from extreme heights, I'm afraid of extreme stopping when I hit the ground.

[ravshanbekmavlonov]

Great video! The whole world using your content to get new knowledge.

[engrfawadiqbalkhan]

I appreciate your efforts, brief and concise video .Thankyou for sharing, Tall structures are more vulnerable to wind loads because the frequency of wind loads and tall structures is lower there is high probability of frequencies' matching and resonance will occur if frequencies are matched and as a result violet shaking of the building will occur .

[hg.]

Good introduction.

Now I'd like to see a level 2 of this material, focusing on earthquakes.

There is a video of the Taipai Tower during the latest earthquake.

I sort of "get" how the damper works, but I want to see it second-by-second, with a contrast of what would happen if the damper weren't there.

[ansible]

Great video, btw don't shy away from things getting too complicated.

[maryguthrie]

Wonderfully explained, easy to understand. Thanks so much for this information.

[kevin]

How do they account for making the cables strong enough to hold such a heavy object without putting too much stress on everything else supporting it?
How are they maintained or repaired if something goes wrong?

[jovenjuli]

Your simplified explanation is on point, keep it up.😊

[catherinevankampen]

My kids & I just watched! We learned a lot. Probably 30% was too difficult, but I am ok with that as I mostly focus on History so my science knowledge needs work! We subscribed!
Also, I was up in Tapei 101 in the fall of 2004 and got to see the ball....so cool.

[Mike-vrlw]

Great video, educational, fun, and understandable. Thanks, I've subscribed 😀