People run as skyscraper wobbles despite good weather and no earthquake

[Demovictory9]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/18/panic-as-300m-high-tall-skyscraper-wobbles-in-china

Panic as 300-metre-high skyscraper wobbles in China
SEG Plaza in Shenzhen, one of country’s tallest buildings, evacuated after it inexplicably starts shaking

The SEG Plaza in Shenzhen was evacuated after it started shaking on Tuesday.

People flee in panic as 300-metre skyscraper wobbles in China – video
Agence France-Presse



One of China’s tallest skyscrapers was evacuated on Tuesday after it began to shake, sending panicked shoppers scampering to safety.

The near 300 metre (980ft) high SEG Plaza in Shenzhen, southern China, inexplicably began to shake at around 1pm, prompting an evacuation of people inside while pedestrians looked on open-mouthed.

The building was closed by 2.40pm, according to local media reports.

Completed in 2000, the tower is home to a major electronics market as well as various offices in the centre of one of China’s fastest-growing cities.

Link to tweet

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[hlthe2b]

1. Construction, Construction, Construction... (cheap steel?)

Could have been a lot worse. Fortunately not.

[Demovictory9]

2. Shaking from inside building

[Maxheader]

3. Can you say poor materials?

Poor analysis...What west coast city, maybe San Francisco

Had a huge multi billion dollar main transportation center

shut down shortly after opening? Cracking in main support

beams...Poor analysis..... actually, on edit..It was improper

beam prep....mouse holes to allow access for welders weren't

ground smooth. Cracks started.

[Historic NY]

4. Tower of Bable, Chinese version....

[genxlib]

5. I have a theory

Many high rise buildings in earthquake zones have mass damper systems in them. These are very heavy objects high up in the building that are meant to move in the opposite direction of the way that the earthquake is moving

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuned_mass_damper

Historically, these have been passive systems that just move naturally counter to the building movement

More recent technology has active systems that use sensors and mechanical systems to move the weight in the most effective way.

My theory is that something went wrong with the sensors and activated the damper weights when the building actually wasn't moving. ALternatively, the system might have a test mode that initiates movement so that it can then be checked to see if it can then counteract that movement.

The only other possible explanation is some kind of outside force such as wind. It is possible that wind can effect one structure much more than the surrounding structures but it would have to be a pretty high wind. That has not been reported anywhere.

Here is a simple video of a scale version of a test of such a system

[dalton99a]

6. Shitty construction, approved by corrupt inspectors

This is a recurrent problem in China.

[brush]

8. Bet someone took payoffs to ok poor steel and concrete.

That building is going to have to come down.

[BSdetect]

7. Video manages to almost totally miss the swaying?

[Demovictory9]

10. the video in the guardian article catches it

[BGBD]

9. If the house is a-rocking.

[Wavelight]

11. Waiting for Godzilla to show up

NT