The Role of Damping Systems

Abstract

Structural engineers have learned from our colleagues in wind engineering and from the owners and occupants of a number of “lively” tall buildings built during the past 30 years that tall buildings respond dynamically to wind. In many cases the dynamic response is dominant, exceeding the slowly varying mean response. Taking this as a challenge, structural engineers have searched for effective ways to reduce building dynamic response in order to increase building safety, reduce occupant discomfort, and reduce non-structural damage.