Engineering
Pounding Effect Mitigation Between Adjacent Buildings Using Fluid Viscous Dampers
Quick fact
Fluid viscous dampers can reduce pounding forces by up to 80%, by converting the seismic kinetic energy of the swaying buildings into heat, thus allowing buildings to be built safely much closer than separation codes would otherwise mandate.
Why this is interesting
Imagine two tall buildings standing very close together. During an earthquake, they can swing into each other like pendulums and crash – a phenomenon called 'pounding.' How can engineers stop them from smashing into each other without tearing them down?