Building Motion and Green Dampers Seminar

Synopsis

It has been well acknowledged by the world community that the current model of development is unsustainable, which means we are living beyond our means. Our way of life is placing an increasing burden on the planet and this can not be sustained.

A timely decision by UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to include international green building principles to the Emirates, ushered a new era in the green building movement in this region. The Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) has also been formed to promote the principles of green building in the UAE. The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimise waste and create healthy, productive environments.

Supplementary damping (explainedSupplementary Damping System - a system that can be incorporated into a structure to enhance the structure's ability to absorb and dissipate dynamic energy imparted to the structure from external fluctuating loads (such as wind on buildings and spires, persons or vehicles on bridges and floors, seismic on any structure). This dissipation results in lower motions of the structure (improving the comfort for occupants and users) and lower dynamic loads (leading to lower loads on the structure and the ability to optimize the structural system in terms of strategic material usage. Incorporating an SDS into the design optimization process requires that the design be driven by Performance-Based Design practices.) reduces structural material, costs and enhances sustainable practices. Proactive damping design practices helps to reduce construction costs and increases sellable floor space. Using less structural material also has green impacts, and affects the carbon footprint of the development.

The Seminar on Building Motion and Green Dampers will discuss Wind-induced behavior of structures, Vortex-shedding and buffeting responses of buildings, spires, bridges and antennae using specific examples and lessons learned from the wind tunnel tests. Strategies to reduce dynamic behavior of these structures will also be elaborated. The causes and effects of Structural Motion will be covered from serviceability point of view.

A summary of the commonly accepted criteria for serviceability and Motion perception criteria as suggested by different codes and through research and experience will be thoroughly discussed. The positive effects of designing a structure to purposely exhibit a target damping level will be presented.

Speaker’s short biography