Tuned mass damper demonstration - GIF

**Altair** · Mar 18, 2019, 10:14 PM

Tuned mass damper demonstration. Tuned mass dampers are usually installed in tall buildings to reduce vibrations caused by wind or earthquake. The device is also used in automobiles, spacecraft, and power transmission.

Previously:

Motion compensating ship personnel transfer gangway - GIF
720-ton tuned mass damper in skyscraper - GIF, video, and diagram
Emergency building escape mechanism - GIF and video

**Inflight** · Mar 19, 2019, 04:58 PM

In my Jr High School 7th grade science class, I did this demonstration for my science fair project. I managed to win 3rd place in the Los Angeles County science fair competition. Hard to believe that was 30 years ago!

**jimfols** · Mar 19, 2019, 09:09 PM

Belated congratulations Inflight.
First time I heard of a mass damper was when they tried them in Formula 1.
To see it in action is really cool. Thanks Altair.

**Altair** · Mar 29, 2019, 10:29 PM

Another setup:

**tonyfoale** · Mar 30, 2019, 05:30 PM

That looks like hydraulic dampers on the RHS model I do not see anything like a mass damper.

**Inflight** · Mar 30, 2019, 08:36 PM

I agree with Tony. Seems like a shear panel or a simple diagonal brace could accomplish the same results as this demonstration.

-= Inflight =-

**tonyfoale** · Mar 31, 2019, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by Inflight

I agree with Tony. Seems like a shear panel or a simple diagonal brace could accomplish the same results as this demonstration.

Either of those would make it rigid. I think the demo is to illustrate the use of damping in buildings to reduce damage under earth quake like conditions. Flexibility is required for that but it needs to be damped. The title labelled it as a mass damper whereas it has the appearance of being fitted with hydraulic dampers and has the characteristics expected of overcritical viscous damping.