Section 074
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY
BASE ISOLATION
a collection of structural elements that work to decouple a structure from its foundation resting on a shaking ground, thereby protecting it from damage
CROSS BRACING
a system used to reinforce structures with diagonal supports
FREQUENCY
the number of times a structure or system goes through one complete cycle of vibration in one second (1/period, Hz)
RESONANCE VIBRATION
the tendency of a structure or system to oscillate with larger amplitudes at some frequencies than at other frequencies
SEISMIC LOADING
earthquake generated excitation to a structure
SYSTEM EQUILIBRIUM
a condition in which all acting influences are canceled by others, resulting in a stable, balanced, or unchanging system
TUNED MASS DAMPING
the use of a tuned mass damper to reduce the vibration of a structure or system and stabilize it against violent motion caused by resonance vibration