14.7.2. Avoiding Resonance in Design

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is resonance?

   Hint

   Think about how vibrating strings work in a musical instrument.

2. 2.

   Name one method to avoid resonance in structural design.

   Hint

   Consider how weight affects the swing of a pendulum.

3. 3.

   What leads to resonance in structures?

   • When mass increases
   • When external frequency matches natural frequency
   • When stiffness decreases

   Hint

   Think about how musical instruments resonate.

4. 4.

   Base isolators help to decouple the building from which forces?

   • Wind
   • Earthquake
   • Traffic

   Hint

   Imagine a tall building during a strong earthquake.

5. 5.

   Design a scenario for a multi-story building in a seismic zone. Outline how you would utilize mass alteration and dampers to avoid resonance.

   Hint

   Think about how uneven weight distribution in a tall building can influence its stability.

6. 6.

   Given a building has a natural frequency in the range of 2 Hz, what design changes could you recommend to ensure it avoids resonance with an earthquake recording a frequency of 2 Hz?

   Hint

   Raising frequency requires strengthening the structure.