The Minneapolis Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the United States and perhaps the world. It is so large, it houses an Aquarium and a children’s Amusement Park.
They just added another kid’s complex called SMAAASH. SMAAASH includes simulators, video games, and a complete go-cart track. Management was aware that the noise and the vibration from the go-carts would drive the other tenants crazy, so the Mall’s management team retained ESI (Engineering Systems, Inc.), a Minneapolis based consulting group specializing in Noise, Vibration and Structural Dynamics to avoid that problem before finalizing construction.
Fortunately, the future track was in the vacant 4th floor area. This allowed them to race a go-cart around the empty space and evaluate the noise and vibration transmission to the spaces below. During their “experiment”, the building management was deluged with noise complaints, which made it a must to support the track as an independent, isolated structure.
Tony Baxter of ESI contacted Mulcahy our Minneapolis representative, for assistance in matching our isolation products to their study. ESI determined that the cars running down the ramps would produce the highest energy levels and recommended 2” defection spring isolators as supports. These soft low frequency supports eliminated the transmitted vibration as predicted, but with the high variable loads of the passing carts, excessive track movement was another concern. As the carts break and turn, they impose lateral loads on the track, so ESI incorporated both vertical and horizontal isolated restraints to limit the motion as shown below.
We are pleased to share some photos of the track under construction and the design drawing. The system worked beautifully.
We very much appreciate ESI letting us help work on this very interesting project.
Whether you are isolating a go-cart track, a whole building exhaust fan, or anything in between, please give us a call. We will be happy to suggest the right product to meet your requirements, or where the application is complex or you are more comfortable working with a professional consultant, we will put you in touch with our consulting friends who can evaluate your predicament and provide a comprehensive solution.
After almost 70 years of problem solving and a line of products based on experience on virtually every type of application, we look forward to hearing from and helping you.
