Motion Control of Slender Structures: State-of-the-Practice 

Presenter: Shayne Love, Ph.D. Technical Director, 

Applied Mechanics | Motioneering

Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 1.0 PDH

WEBINAR via ZOOM | NOON - 1:00 p.m. ET

This presentation will focus on the motion control of civil structures.

Tools and methods used to predict motions, such as wind tunnel testing and numerical simulation, will be described with a focus on practical applications.

Subsequently, commonly used supplementary damping systems, including tuned mass dampers and tuned liquid dampers, will be discussed.

The intent of this presentation is to overview the state-of-the-practice of the motion control of slender structures and will include numerous examples of real structures from around the world.

Pictured: The 101-story skyscraper, Taipei 101, was the tallest building in the world for six years. Motioneering designed the tuned mass damper that is the tower’s main supplementary damping system. In addition to supporting the building’s performance and the comfort of its occupants, the damper’s elegant single pendulum has become a noted tourist attraction.

Located on the 87th floor, the pendulum’s mass is suspended from cables anchored on the 92nd floor and is stabilized by hydraulic cylinders. The damper experienced its biggest test to date in August 2015 when Typhoon Soudelor brought wind gusts of 230 km/h (140 mph) to Taipei. As the pendulum moved out of phase with the building’s wind-induced sway, it limited the structure’s movement and protected the comfort of occupants despite the extreme conditions.