Taipei 101: Engineering
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The 730 ton Tuned Mass Dumper
Taipei 101 is also recognized for its engineering feat which is definitely remarkable, as the structure is engineered to counterattack earthquakes. As the area around Taipei 101 is an ancient earthquake zone, a spherical Ø5.5m 730 ton (662 metric ton), $4 million TMD (Tuned Mass Damper) is built between the restaurant level and the observation deck (87 to 91st floors) to help stabilize the tower to withstand quakes measuring above the magnitude of 7.0. The damper sphere is not completely "rounded" but consist of 41 layers of 12.5cm (Height) steel plates being welded together to form a "jagged-edge" sphere.
The TMD is publicly viewable on the 88th and 89th floors.
Besides hanging the damper sphere on the 92th floor with 8 steel cables measuring 42cm long and 9cm thick, 8 Primary and Bumper hydraulics were installed at the bottom sides of the sphere to automatically absorb and help dissipate vibration impacts. It also prevents the sphere from hitting the side walls and help position the sphere without hanging loosely. The TMD also reduces the bulding's vibration by as much as 40% - 45%. This method is also a similar principle like a shock absorber, or a suspension system in a vehicle.
Indeed, this is the first time in architectural history, that the TMD system is not hidden, but visible and part of the building's design. Having a sphere that is over Ø5.5m, it is also the largest damper sphere in the World.
While "not-in-use" or in the event of no seismic activity, the TMD also helps to resist in times of strong wind movement.
How does the tuned mass damper work?
| This is an animation of the tuned mass damper in action. The file size is 4.5mb. Please be patient while it loads. Image courtesy of Motioneering.com |
A TMD is "tuned" to fit the overall configuration of a particular tower. Meaning that is, the damper is engineered & designed specifically suited for a particular tower to stabilize. It is also engineered to resist or react the amount of seismic or wind energy the TMD can handle.
When an earthquake happens, the seismic waves from the earthquake causes the building to sway or oscillate depending the direction of the quake. Which in turn, transferring all the seismic energy ("Swaying" motion) to the TMD. This causes the sphere of the TMD to momentarily swing, counter reacting the force of the swaying directions caused by the earthquake, thus stabilizing the structure. Also, with the help of the hydraulic pumps or suspension system at the bottom of the sphere to act as counterweights or form a "Pushing" Force acting against the sphere.
The 2 smaller Tuned Mass Dampers
So, you thought there was only one main TMD in Taipei 101? Think again!
2 more TMDs were installed at the tip of the spre, each weighing 4.5 tons. The purpose of the 2 smaller TMDs reduce cumulative fatique damage to the structure due to stong prevailing winds at the upper most part of the tower, which is a common issue being fixed for high rise buildings with spires.
The World's Fastest Elevators
There are a total of 61 elevators in Taipei 101. But two of them are special. Here's why.
Taipei 101 not only holds the record for the World's Tallest, but also holds the record for the two fastest elevators in the World, traveling in upward direction at speeds of 3,314 feet (1010.11m/min). The speed of traveling downwards is at 610m/min. These 2 fastest elevators only serves from the 1st to the 89th floor, which is the observation deck in just 40 seconds. The second fastest was Tokyo's Yokohama Landmark Tower.
Cost and Installation
source from Gretchen Olney and Hadley Planting
What could be more interesting? The cost of a single one of these high speed elevators, are already as much as US$ 2 million. Also, this is one of the first buildings in the World to have double deck lifts.
The system took just only a 5-man team from Lerch, Bates & Associates and 1 year 45 days (18 months) to develop. That amount of time is equivalent to constructing The Empire State Building in New York, 1931. The Toshiba/G.F.C elevator took more than a year to build and four years to install and integrate into the building.
The two high speed cars, as they said, "had to be designed and specified to overcome extreme distances and main guide-rail alignments, aural discomfort, snag guards, and noise abatement problems." The elevator counterweights (Image Right) are wrapped in an aerodynamic sheath to prevent noise from disturbing tenants. A permanent magnet synchronous motor creates the enormous torque to wind the cables.
