Shen: About 10 years ago, when the Department of Rapid Transit Systems [under the Taipei City Government] was planning the Hsinyi Line of the Mass Rapid Transit system, they did extensive research on the Taipei Fault. They found it has not been active for about 10,000 years and is far from our site -- about 200m. The Taipei Financial Center did further detailed research [into the issue] after we were awarded this BOT (build-operate-transfer) project. We invited local and foreign experts and professors to study the issue and found it has not been active for at least 45,000 years. This is also [the conclusion of] the Central Geological Survey of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, [whom have] taken the Taipei Fault off the official list of active faults.
[Regardless of the fact that] the Taipei Fault is categorized as non-active, the Taipei Financial Center has [extensively] reinforced the foundation. There are 557 piles [anchoring pillars] under the building. The length of each pile is about 75-80m long and is driven another 25-30m, into the bedrock below. The seismic design of Taipei 101 can handle an earthquake of more than magnitude 7 [on the Richter scale] and still be stable. Also keep in mind that the March 31 quake that took down the cranes was, according to the Central Weather Bureau, centered under the sea, south of Hualien. There is no relationship between the March 31 earthquake and the Taipei Fault. Foreign experts have told us that, with the earthquake-proofing we have planned, if an earthquake was to occur so severe as to topple the building, there would also be no other structures left standing in Taipei.
TT: As with many tall buildings around the globe, Taipei 101 also has an 800-ton damper ball to counter wind and potential quake sway -- how does that device work?
Shen: In Taiwan we face two significant natural conditions, typhoons and earthquakes. For high-rise structures the impact of typhoons is even greater than that of earthquakes. In strong winds, tall buildings will bend and move.
The ball acts as a wind damper, countering the sway of the building to reduce movement. The gold-colored ball will be on display in the building and will be a confidence-builder for all who see this amazing object, designed by Canadian wind-tunnel consultants Rowan, Williams, Davies and Irwin.
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