When you build tall, you encounter a dangerous enemy: resonance. If the wind pushes a building at its natural frequency, the swaying amplifies, potentially causing structural failure or making occupants seasick.

Taipei 101, formerly the world’s tallest building, sits in a region prone to typhoons and earthquakes. To counter this, engineers suspended a 728-ton steel sphere between the 87th and 92nd floors.

This is a Tuned Mass Damper (TMD). When the building sways right, the sphere lags behind and swings left, pulling the building back. It reduces sway by up to 40%.

Use the interactive graph to simulate wind force and activate the damper to see the physics in action.