Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Taiwan's tallest skyscraper, Taipei 101, emerged largely unscathed from a recent 7.4-magnitude earthquake, showcasing its resilience.
The building's unique design, featuring a giant pendulum known as the "Damper Baby," played a crucial role in minimizing damage during the seismic event.
Video: X
The "Damper Baby" is a Tuned Mass Damper, consisting of a massive steel sphere suspended between the 87th and 92nd floors, designed to absorb shock and reduce building sway.
Weighing 660 metric tonnes, the spherical damper is constructed from 41 steel layers and swings within a limited range to counteract the building's movement.
Pic: Twitter
The TMD serves both functional and aesthetic purposes, enhancing the building's safety while also offering visitors a glimpse of its operation from the observation deck.
During earthquakes or typhoons, the TMD moves back and forth to absorb intense swinging, effectively reducing the building's movement by up to 40 percent.
Closed-circuit TV footage captured during the earthquake demonstrates Taipei 101's minimal movement compared to surrounding structures, highlighting the effectiveness of the TMD.
Taipei 101's use of innovative engineering, exemplified by the TMD, showcases its commitment to safeguarding structures in earthquake-prone regions like Taiwan.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons