Researchers at the University of Sharjah have developed a newly patented seismic damping device that does not depend on electricity, sensors, hydraulic fluids or complex electronics. Instead, the system relies on something remarkably simple: steel balls moving inside a hollow cylinder and converting earthquake motion into friction.
Developed by civil engineering professor Moussa Leblouba, the passive damping mechanism is designed to reduce vibrations in buildings, bridges and other structures exposed to seismic forces. The US patent for the technology was issued in December 2025.
