TMD // Taiwan
Taipei 101
Formerly called the Taipei World Financial Centre, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world in 2004 and remained as such until 2009. Construction of the 101 story skyscraper commenced in 1999 and concluded in 2004.
How it worksTuned Mass Damper
How it Works
01 // The Challenge
The 101 floors represented optimism and a new ideal. With 100 being a number that symbolized perfection, 101 was a symbol of going beyond.
02 // Environmental Forces
Given the tower’s location on the globe, special measures were taken to ensure it could withstand earthquake tremors and typhoon winds – both of which are quite common in Taiwan. Structural engineers of Evergreen Consulting Engineering designed the building to be flexible and structurally resistant so that it could withstand gusts of wind up to 60m per second as well as earthquakes. Taipei 101’s Tuned Mass Damper system was designed by Motioneering Inc. *
03 // Technology
As a subcontractor of Motioneering Inc., A+H fabricated the cradle and connecting components, including the bumper and its brackets, for the largest TMD system in the world. A 730-ton suspended steel sphere, this TMD is an architectural feature of the building, the only one of its kind. The TMD helps the building to withstand high winds and reduces up to 40% of building movement. A+H also built and tested the pinnacle TMDs for Taipei 101. Altogether, the fabrication of components took just under one year to complete. *
* For more information or questions, please contact our partner Motioneering.
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Tuned Mass Dampers in Buildings
Tuned mass dampers, also called harmonic absorbers, are simple yet effective mechanisms that allow us to design and live in skyscrapers. Without them, the lifespan, structural integrity, and comfort of these high-rise buildings would be seriously reduced.