Tuned Mass Dampers

A pendulum that protects a skyscraper

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• A tuned mass damper resonates with the structure and absorbs its energy.
• Best tuning: slightly below the structure’s frequency, making two equal peaks.
• A small damper can cut the worst-case response several times over.

Steps

1. A giant ball
2. Why tune it?
3. Tune the damper
4. A small fraction
5. The bridge fix
6. How much better?