If one day, while savoring a cappuccino or sipping a glass of shiraz on the 90th floor of Taipei 101, you notice that a massive metal sphere suspended from cables has started swinging back and forth, do not be disturbed: It will only mean that a minor temblor has struck Taipei or that a brisk wind is picking up outside.
And the big gold ball will make you much, much safer.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
The tuned mass damper -- a device that increases skyscrapers' resistance to strong winds and earthquakes -- is, at 680 tonnes, the largest damper in the world. It was designed and built by Canadian Motioneering, a company participating in a technology transfer with the National Research Council, Canada.
Canadian delegates from the center made a field trip to Taipei 101 yesterday to inspect the construction of the damper, following a construction technology workshop on Monday and Tuesday.
According to Shieh Shaw (
"In addition, it can also reduce vibrations caused by earthquakes," Shieh said.
Shieh said that the tower's earthquake-resistant features, including the damper, will prevent the 101-storey building from becoming unstable at all levels of seismic intensity.
The damper, which is a passive device that depends for its functioning solely on reacting to the laws of physics, is sphere-shaped. It is constructed of thick plates of steel and is suspended from cables like a pendulum.
The device's components were made in Canada, France and Italy -- except for the massive steel plates, which were made in Taiwan.
The damper will soon be painted gold. After the tower is opened in December, visitors to restaurants, bars and observation decks between the 88th and 92nd floors will be able to see the huge gold ball.
Ted Lipman (黎義恩), Executive Director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, said that the office aims to introduce more state-of-the-art Canadian technology to Taiwan -- and that he hopes the damper will be satisfactory to its buyer.
"The building is safe with the damper in it. With the damper, people will feel more comfortable when working inside," said Russ Thomas, director of the council's Fire Risk Management Program, said after visiting the construction site.
Dampers designed by Canadian Motioneering have been used worldwide, including in skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Las Vegas, New York and Toronto.
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