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- Vibration Control Dampens the Effects of Earthquakes
MORI LIVING Diary
Vibration Control Dampens the Effects of Earthquakes
May 17, 2011
In a place like Japan, where earthquakes are so common, we all want to know that the buildings we live and work in are safe and structurally sound. Luckily for us, Japan's frequent seismic activity means that its buildings are among the most earthquake resistant in the world, using the most advanced technologies available in their construction.
All buildings in Japan are built with a basic level of earthquake resistance that ensures they are structurally strong enough to withstand frequent earthquakes. While technologies for earthquake-resistant construction are constantly changing and being updated, at the very least we can rest assured that most buildings are not going to fall down around us in the event of a quake. But on top of the earthquake-resistant construction practices that are commonly in use today, some buildings--like those built by Mori Living--use additional technologies to safeguard against seismic activity.
One technology that is commonly used in Mori buildings is vibration control, which utilizes dampening devices to slow down the shaking of a building in the event of an earthquake. Viscous wall dampers on every floor also act as brakes to stop shaking soon after the earthquake has ended. Roppongi Hills Residences B and C, for example, have over 300 of these wall dampers in each tower. By dampening a building's shaking, vibration control helps to reduce the occurrences of secondary disasters, such as falling furniture or objects, breaks in gas lines, etc.
Kazumasa Okabe, deputy manager of Mori Building's Structural Design Unit, recently showed me some of the wall dampers in Roppongi Hills Residences B and C and explained how they work. It was fascinating to see, and learning about the technology gave me renewed faith that the buildings are not only structurally sound enough to withstand a major quake, but also advanced enough to only shake as much and as long as is absolutely necessary.
Kelly