Building skyscrapers is a slow process.
Why?
Researchers say we’re being too cautious because we’re not sure how wind will affect these tall structures.
A new study from the University of Bristol suggests that if we can better understand how wind interacts with skyscrapers, we might be able to speed up their construction.
So, what’s the main issue? It’s all about something called “damping.”
This is the way engineers make sure that buildings don’t shake too much when hit by forces like wind. Imagine you’re in a tall building, and a strong wind blows.
You don’t want the building to shake so much that it makes you dizzy, right? Well, that’s what damping helps prevent.
But here’s the problem: Engineers are not 100% sure how to measure damping in tall buildings. Right now, they use some math formulas that are basically educated guesses.
These formulas are good but not perfect.
So, to be on the safe side, engineers make the building stronger than it probably needs to be. And making things stronger usually means taking more time to build them.
The study’s lead author, Daniel Gonzalez-Fernandez, and his team looked at a 150-meter tall building in London to understand this better.
They put special devices on top of the building to measure how much it shook due to wind. They did this for a year and found some interesting things.
Firstly, they noticed that how much a building shakes has more to do with the size and speed of its own movement, rather than the wind’s speed and direction. That was a bit of a surprise. So, in simpler terms, it’s not just about how hard the wind is blowing, but also about how the building itself is moving.
They also found that the building’s shaking changed over time because more people moved in, and because the building itself adjusted to the forces acting on it.
Think of it like breaking in a new pair of shoes; over time, the building “settles in” and behaves a bit differently.
Why is this study so important? For one, it could make skyscrapers easier and quicker to build. Engineers wouldn’t have to overdo things just to be safe. This could save time and money. Secondly, it’s good for people who live or work in these tall buildings.
The less a building shakes, the more comfortable it is to be inside. And finally, if we understand these forces better, our buildings will last longer and be safer.
Daniel says that as skyscrapers are getting taller and skinnier, understanding these things is more important than ever.
With more accurate information, we can design buildings that not only stand tall but also keep us safe and comfortable.
So, the next time you look at a skyscraper, you might think about all the science and engineering that goes into making sure it doesn’t make you feel like you’re on a roller coaster!
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