During the construction of the building, Taipei 101 was equipped with a number of preventative measures that help make this structure especially durable to withstand the strongest earthquakes in a 2,500-year cycle.
The steel ball acts like a giant pendulum, hanging from the 92nd to the 88th floor of the building (Photo: Tall Building).
The building’s excellent earthquake resistance comes from the combination of a solid foundation and flexibility. To avoid damage, the building can even sway during earthquakes or windstorms.
The project has 380 piles. Each pile is driven 80m deep into the ground to help reinforce the solid foundation. But the most interesting feature is the world’s largest adjustable mass damper system, suspended from the 92nd floor to the 88th floor.
It is a giant yellow steel ball weighing 730 tons that acts like a pendulum. It has a diameter of 6m, is made from stacked steel plates, oscillating gently to eliminate the forces that cause the building to sway.
In addition, the pendulum is equipped with a sensor system that detects building movement and adjusts the movement accordingly. It is known that Taipei 101 is also the first skyscraper to use pendulums to dampen the structure. This massive device can move 1.5m in all directions, thereby reducing sway by about 30% to 40%.
On September 18, 2022, visitors who happen to be in the building can directly observe the dampers in action. That’s when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake occurred. Dampers generate the right amount of force to withstand the shaking of an earthquake.
Taipei 101 is considered a symbol of the prosperity of the island of Taiwan (Photo: Trip).
This giant pendulum alone costs about 4 million USD. Experts say that the dampers are very successful in reducing the impact of wind and earthquakes on the building.
“Humans cannot prevent earthquakes. Natural disasters will happen sooner or later, but we need to prepare the best way to respond,” an architect said.
The ability to deal with the forces of nature is not the only impressive feature of Taipei 101. The building also has extremely fast elevators, with a maximum speed of 60.6km/h, helping visitors go from Ground floor to observatory in just 37 seconds.