Beautiful Data: Building & Its Tuned Mass Damper Beat Windstorm
An infographic illustrating the tuned mass and building motion during a windstorm
Service: Motion Control & Damping
Motion Control for Ambitious Structures
Create resilient structures with innovative motion control and damping
When a structure is subjected to external forces—wind, pedestrian movement, or seismic activity—it vibrates or sways. In tall buildings, on large bridges or long-span floors, such movement can make people uncomfortable. In other structures, it can affect equipment functionality and hasten material fatigue or other failures. We have decades of experience evaluating vibration issues within the built environment.
How we help
By enhancing the structure’s ability to dissipate energy from external forces, we ensure stability and comfort, tailored to your specific needs and conditions. Our work spans aeroacoustics, wind-induced vibration, bridge analysis, floor vibration, ground-borne vibration, and damper design.
Building & structure motion control
Enhancing a structure’s response to wind, seismic, or occupant-induced motion improves comfort, resilience, and long-term asset value.
We can recommend structural and aerodynamic modifications to reduce the motion of buildings. We design custom structural and aerodynamic solutions—as well as custom damping systems like tuned mass dampers or sloshing dampers—tailored to your project’s needs. From design through fabrication, installation, and commissioning, we provide end-to-end support with proven performance.
Our damping systems reduce motion without compromising design. Our expertise spans buildings, towers, air traffic control towers, and more.
Speak with a damping expertBridge motion & damping
Flexible structures like bridges are highly sensitive to wind, traffic, and pedestrian-induced motion, making effective damping essential for safety and comfort.
We design damping solutions for both permanent bridge components such as deck, pylons, and cables, and for temporary use during construction, when elements are especially vulnerable to wind-induced vibration. Our expertise ensures stability throughout the bridge’s lifecycle.
Speak with a damping expertFloor motion & damping
Foot traffic can cause floor vibrations that disrupt comfort, damage sensitive equipment, or trigger unease, even if there’s no structural risk.
We help you reduce motion with smart strategies from increasing mass and stiffness to adding damping systems. For high-vibration spaces like gyms or dance floors, we can also offer operational guidance, like occupancy limits to keep your space performing at its best.
Speak with a damping expertHow our motion control and damping services can benefit your project
Improve the stability and comfort of your structure
Combining external energy source analysis, building response, and damper dynamics, we help you understand vibration issues in your project and how they can be mitigated.
Create safe, beautiful spaces that stay comfortable—without sacrificing your architectural vision. Our custom damping solutions reduce motion while preserving aesthetics and enhancing occupant comfort.
Uncontrolled motion accelerates structural fatigue and shortens lifespan. Our motion control solutions dramatically reduce vibration and stress, protecting your investment and boosting long-term durability.
Uncontrolled motion accelerates structural fatigue and shortens lifespan. Our motion control solutions dramatically reduce vibration and stress, protecting your investment and boosting long-term durability.
We work together with your entire project team—from architects to structural engineers and general contractors—to deliver practical and reliable motion control strategies customized to your design, site conditions, budget, and schedule.
Track how your structure performs with precision. We offer sensitive monitoring systems that provide continuous structural performance data, helping owners and operators make informed, proactive decisions.
Canada
Juno Beach Memorial Bridge
Enhancing aerodynamic stability and pedestrian comfort for Juno Beach Memorial Bridge
FAQs about our motion control and damping services
Still have questions? Contact us.
We have decades of experience evaluating vibration issues within the built environment. Through our work on vibration-related projects—aeroacoustics, wind-induced vibration, bridge analysis, floor vibration, ground-borne vibration, and damper design and supply—we have gained a broad range of experience in vibration issues. We collaborate with you to determine the most accurate and cost-effective type of mitigation for your specific project. It also gives the breadth of expertise needed to consult effectively on unique, outside-the-box projects.
We conduct a comprehensive evaluation that combines three critical analyses: external energy source, building response, and (where necessary) damper dynamics. Drawing on decades of experience with weather data, wind forces, seismic forces, and pedestrian-induced loads, we create a detailed and coherent analysis to ensure our motion control recommendation will be effective for your project.
Yes, through our sister-company, Motioneering, we support our clients across fabrication, installation, testing, and commissioning of dampers, so you can be assured that the final system will perform as specified, ensuring optimal stability and comfort. We have designed and installed dozens of damping systems ranging from a few kilograms to more than 1,000 tonnes.
We manage motion, even post-construction, with customizable, cost-effective solutions. While we are more limited in our remediation options post-construction, our expertise allows us to identify solutions, that can address your concerns ensuring your structure performs as intended under all conditions.
Insights from our industry experts
New York Times: ‘Keeping Skyscrapers From Blowing in the Wind’
New York Times article - Keeping skyscrapers from blowing in the wind
When structures move, it doesn’t always mean its structurally unsafe. However, when people feel this movement, their perception of feeling unsafe is important. Not only can people...
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