Taiwan's tallest skyscraper is standing strong after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the island nation, killing nine people and injuring at least 946 others on Wednesday.
Taipei 101, once known as the tallest skyscraper in the world, uses enormous energy Mass damper tuned (basically a giant pendulum) to protect itself from earthquakes.
The 660-ton pendulum hangs more than 1,000 feet above the ground and allows the structure to withstand tremors and hurricane-force winds. The massive steel ball moves back and forth slightly, just enough to counteract any movement.
the device Reduces tower movements by up to 40%according to its creator and tester, A+H Tuned.
“Tuned mass dampers, also called harmonic absorbers, are simple yet powerful mechanisms that allow us to design and live in skyscrapers,” A+H Tuned says on its website. “Without them, the lifespan, structural integrity and comfort of these high-rise buildings would be significantly reduced.”
The damper is suspended between several floors
The gold-block damper hangs between the 87th and 92nd floors in downtown Taipei 101.
The device is Made of 41 layersEach is about 5 inches thick and about 18 feet in diameter, according to its website. Ninety-two steel cables were used to suspend it, each about 3.5 inches wide and 138 feet long.
The ball also uses a shock-absorbing ring to limit its sway back and forth to about 59 inches in the event of a severe earthquake or hurricane-force winds.
The skyscraper, formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Centre, was the tallest skyscraper in the world when it was completed in 2004. It held the title until 2009, when it was dethroned by Dubai's Burj Khalifa.
Why are earthquakes common in Taiwan?
Taiwan is vulnerable to earthquakes because it lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” The tectonic belt witnesses 90% of the earthquakes that occur in the world.
The densely populated island nation has developed a reputation for earthquake preparedness, according to Joseph Barbera, an emergency physician and professor of engineering management and systems engineering at George Washington University.
Barbera said the damage from Wednesday's quake would likely have been much worse had it not been for the preparedness of emergency services and strict enforcement of the country's earthquake building codes. Other important buildings are built on foundations to protect them from earthquakes.
“There's a big difference between building failure — structural failure, not just buildings — in Taiwan versus other countries that have similar-sized earthquakes,” Barbera told USA TODAY. “They have had a real commitment for decades to reducing risk.”
Contributing: John Bacon and Janine Santucci
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