Vibration Control Sensors in Kiyose City Building Resists Earthquake

The Technical Research Institute of the Obayashi Corporation has integrated effective vibration control solutions to its latest main facility in the Tokyo-oriented Kiyose City, which has the potentiality to lower the intensity of building vibrations to one fiftieth in comparison with the ground shakes at times of earthquake.

This specific vibration control technology features a shielded rubber basement coupled with actuating elements. During an earthquake, the sensors senses it and the system’s actuators functions immediately by moving the building in such a way that it is opposite in direction to that of the occurrence of the tremor to repel the intensity of the vibration. The specific system has nearly ten times the seismic re-treating potentiality in comparison with a traditional seismic isolation methodology. A trial carried out with a vertically positioned pencil did not exhibit tremor even with a five scale intense vibration of the Japanese seismic pattern.

Major other characteristics of the building consisted of a solar photovoltaic panel powering system with 150 kW, thermal harvesting system and ground heat pumping system. This building also features 55% less CO₂ emissions than any other traditional facilities. The company will utilize this building as a platform for developing hazardous regulation and environmental solutions.