Case study of Energy Dissipation Devices: The San Bernardino County Medical Center

               In the 1993, Taylor Devices received a $4,900,000 contract from the County of San Bernardino, California, to provide large damping devices for five buildings of the new medical center located close to two major fault lines. This $680 million dollar project required a very high damping capacity isolation system, and the fluid viscous dampers were chosen as the most economical solution.

                 The earthquake resistant design of this building complex required a total of 233 fluid viscous dampers. Each has an output of 320,000 lbs, and an available displacement of 48 inches. Each damper is 14 feet in length and weights nearly 3,000 lbs.

  No seismic test facility in the U.S. can directly test a device of this size, each of which generates an energy dissipation level of 3,000 hp at a speed of 60 inches per second. The 60 in/sec. speed can be compared to the 51 in/sec. maximum peak ground velocity for the damaging 1994 Northridge earthquake and shows the tremendous seismic capacity desired for the medical center.

Home | About Us | Company Profile | Articles | Our Projects | Contact Us