This article discusses about a new methods to dampen the vibration of building during an earthquake.
Wireless sensors in combination with magneto-rheological dampers can be helpful in limiting the damage from an earthquake. This was confirmed by Shirley J Dyke, an earthquake engineer at Washington University in St. Louis, after a successful laboratory experiment.
According to her, installing wireless sensors in building would wipe out the need to make major modifications to the structure of building in order to strengthen it and make it earthquake resistant. Wireless sensors are cheap and also easy to install.
This is how the system works:
When an earthquake occurs, the building sways to either side. This swaying is picked up by the sensors attached to the sides of the building and is converted into useful computer data. This data is then transmitted to the magneto-rheological dampers present inside the building structure in the form of electric signals to compensate for the swaying forces and maintain equilibrium.
The composition and working of the magneto-rheological dampers:
The magneto-rheological dampers compose of a liquid containing suspended iron particles. When these dampers receive the electric signal from the computer, the iron particles align themselves in a single direction so as to neutralize the forces produced by the swaying motion.
This method is the easier one because installing wireless sensors is easier than installing wires and cables through the building and connecting them with each other. The costs involved are also higher in this case.
With the structures getting bigger and taller year after year, it has become extremely important to find the right damping system to deal with earthquakes. Wireless damping system offers the best solution at a low cost.
