Learning by seeing is often complementary to book and classroom education experiences. A recent field trip to Burlington, Ont. to see a full-scale tuned mass damper (TMD) afforded a visiting group of CivMin students this opportunity and a valuable look at the real-world application of concepts covered in structural dynamics.
On Thursday, December 4 a group of 24 undergraduate, MEng, MASc and PhD students took part in the tour organized by Prof. Oh-Sung Kwon as part of CIV515 Introduction to Structural Dynamics and led by his postdoctoral fellow (PDF), Dr. Jacob Yager. The TMD, designed by Gradient Wind, was manufactured by Tecoustics for use in mitigating vibrations in tall buildings.
The visit began with an engaging lecture by Dr. Un Yong Jeong of Gradient Wind Engineering, who explained the various types of vibration control systems, how they work, and why tuned mass dampers provide exceptional efficiency in mitigating vibrations in tall buildings. Students then had the rare opportunity to see a 235-tonne tuned mass damper equipped with 48 springs, which is scheduled for installation in a Toronto highrise building in the near future.