<*>070811_190_4x6_Art
Elastic springs supporting the columns of the Battery Maritime Building.
{I am NOT an engineer -- is this correct?:} With most structures, a relatively small amount of damping provides a large reduction in stress and deflection by dissipating energy from the structure. For example, with an automobile suspension, the damper, or shock absorber, is used to control the motion of the springs. The damping forces required are quite small compared to the springs, which must support the vehicle and deflect under bump loadings. A similar situation exists with a building where the spring forces are supplied by the building columns or base isolators which both support the building and deflect under load. It requires only a small amount of damping force to reduce building deflection by a factor of two or three while simultaneously reducing overall column stresses.
<*>070811_190_4x6_Art
Elastic springs supporting the columns of the Battery Maritime Building.
{I am NOT an engineer -- is this correct?:} With most structures, a relatively small amount of damping provides a large reduction in stress and deflection by dissipating energy from the structure. For example, with an automobile suspension, the damper, or shock absorber, is used to control the motion of the springs. The damping forces required are quite small compared to the springs, which must support the vehicle and deflect under bump loadings. A similar situation exists with a building where the spring forces are supplied by the building columns or base isolators which both support the building and deflect under load. It requires only a small amount of damping force to reduce building deflection by a factor of two or three while simultaneously reducing overall column stresses.