A unique shape and an unusual mechanism to control wind-induced motion
The 128-storey Shanghai Tower, known for its twisting exterior, posed many wind engineering challenges with its curved design. But engineers also had to consider the tower’s location in east-central China, which is a typhoon-prone, seismic zone. Extensive wind tunnel testing and aerodynamic form optimization helped mitigate most wind-induced motion, but designers also wanted a tuned mass damper (TMD) to provide an extra guarantee of occupant comfort and protect the space as a tourist attraction. The use of a TMD means most people will not detect movement at the top of the tower. Their only clue would be watching the gentle sway of the TMD from the observation deck.