Assignment 4

EXPLORING
STRUCTURE SYSTEMS
OF HIGH-RISE
BUILDINGS
Zuha Feroz U21103776
Rawan Abdulrazik U21107558
Rahaf AlHasani U21100179
Exterior
Structures
#1
TUBE SYSTEM
The tube is a system where, to resist lateral loads (wind,
seismic, impact), a building is designed to act like a hollow
cylinder, cantilevered perpendicular to the ground.
1A FRAMED TUBE 1B BRACED TUBE
SYSTEM SYSTEM
-Framed tube structural -The trussed tube, also termed
system consists of closely braced tube, is similar to the
spaced exterior columns simple tube but with
comparatively fewer and
that are rigidly connected
farther-spaced exterior columns.
with deep spandrel beams Steel bracings or concrete sheer
running continuously along walls are introduced along the
each facade and around exterior walls to compensate for
the building corners. the fewer columns by tying them
-Example: The World Trade together.
Center Twin Towers -Example: John Hancock Center
1C BUNDLED TUBE
SYSTEM
-In a bundled tube structural
system, there are several
interconnected tubes to form
a multi-cell tube. This
arrangement together resists
lateral loads and overturning
moments.
-Example: Willis Tower
1D TUBE IN TUBE
SYSTEM
-The trussed tube, also termed
braced tube, is similar to the
simple tube but with
comparatively fewer and farther-
spaced exterior columns. Steel
bracings or concrete sheer walls
are introduced along the exterior
walls to compensate for the
fewer columns by tying them
together. Example: John Hancock
Center
-Example: 780 3rd Avenue
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1A FRAMED TUBE 1C BUNDLED TUBE
SYSTEM SYSTEM

1B BRACED TUBE 1D TUBE IN TUBE

SYSTEM SYSTEM

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2 Diagrid
System -The diagrid structural system can be defined as a diagonal
members formed as a framework made by the intersection of
different materials like metals, concrete or wooden beams which is
used in the construction of buildings and roofs. Diagrid structures of
the steel members are efficient in providing solution both in term of
strength and stiffness. But nowadays a widespread application of
diagrid is used in the large span and high rise buildings, particularly
when they are complex geometries and curved shapes.
-Example: Hearst tower in Manhattan

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#3
Space Truss
A Space Truss is a three-
dimensional structural
framework used in civil
engineering. It consists of
straight members connected
at junctions, with loads
applied only at these points.
This configuration provides
high stability and strength-to-
weight ratio for structures.
Example: Eiffel Tower

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#4
exoskeleton
Due to the system’s compositional characteristics, it
acts as a primary building identifier – one of the major
roles of building facades in general cases

Fireproofing of the system is not a serious issue due to

its location outside the building line.

However, thermal expansion/contraction of the system,

exposed to the ever-changing outdoor weather, and the
systemic thermal bridges should be carefully
considered during design.

In exoskeleton structures, lateral load-resisting

systems are placed outside the building lines away from
their facades.

This building structure was taken from the concept of

the animal skeleton.
 The superframe for tall buildings has many possibilities.
Since the perimeter framing provides its lateral load-
#5 resisting capability, it is an extended tubular system

Superframe
Mega column systems consist of reinforced concrete or
composite columns and or shear walls with much larger
cross-sections than normal, running continuously throughout
the height of the building. In this system, In mega column
systems, horizontal connections are of primary importance
A superframe is composed of megacolumns comprising
braced frames of large dimensions at building corners, linked
by multistory trusses at about every 15 to 20 stories.

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 Interior
Structures
#6
rigid frame
Rigid frame systems, also called moment frame systems, are
used in steel and reinforced concrete buildings. This system
consists of beams and columns. A rigid frame is an unbraced
frame that is capable of resisting both vertical and lateral
loads by the bending of beams and columns. Rigid frame
systems efficiently and economically provide sufficient
stiffness to resist wind and earthquake induced lateral loads in
buildings of up to about 25 storeys

In rigid frame structures the columns and girders are joined

together by moment resistant connections. The lateral
stiffness of a rigid frame depends on the bending stiffness of
the columns, girders and connections in-plane. This type of
structure is ideally suited for reinforced concrete buildings
because of the stiffness from rein-forced concrete joints.

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#7
shear wall
Continuous vertical walls, typically constructed from
reinforced concrete or masonry, designed to resist both
gravity and lateral loads in buildings.

Function as narrow, deep cantilever beams, providing crucial

structural support by distributing forces vertically and
laterally, especially in high-rise constructions.

Commonly used as the core of buildings, contributing to

overall structural integrity and stability.

Highly suitable for bracing tall buildings, whether made of

reinforced concrete or steel, due to their substantial in-plane
stiffness and strength.

Economically efficient for hotel and residential buildings with

repetitive floor plans, making shear wall structural systems a
cost-effective choice for structures up to 35 stories in height.

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#8
core and outrigger
Outriggers are rigid horizontal structures connecting the core or
spine to outer columns, enhancing building overturning stiffness
and strength.

Outrigger systems tie together the central core (containing

shear walls or braced frames) with a perimeter system, creating
a composite cantilever effect for improved building behaviour.

Outriggers, whether in the form of walls for reinforced concrete

or trusses for steel structures, provide versatility. Multilevel
outrigger systems can offer up to five times the moment
resistance, making them effective for buildings up to 70 stories,
with potential application in taller structures. They not only
reduce deformations caused by overturning moments but also
enhance efficiency in resisting forces.

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 #8
Flat plate & slab
This system consists of slabs (flat or plate) connected to columns
(without the use of beams).

Flat plate is a two-way reinforced concrete framing system utilizing a

slab of uniform thickness, the simplest of structural shapes.

The flat slab is a two-way reinforced structural system that includes

either drop panels or column capitals at columns to resist heavier loads
and thus permit longer spans.

Lateral resistance depends on the flexural stiffness of the components

and their connections, with the slab corresponding to the girder of the
rigid frame.

Suitable for building up to 25 stories.

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CASE
STUDY 1
EIFFEL
TOWER
BEAMS: Structural Parts
LEGS
The large grid of trusses that span
The Eiffel Tower consists of four
between the legs acts as a beam for the
legs. These legs are of exponential
structure. These trusses are made up of
curve shape, such that they meet to
wrought iron. Trusses provide the support
form a single point at the peak. The
to the flooring system and also help in
size of each leg is approximately 15
load distribution. The lower and middle
m x 15 m. Each leg consists of four
platforms are supported by a 16 m x 16 m
columns. Each column is connected
and 6 m x 6 m square grid trusses with an
to the iron lattice. Thus, the columns
area of 4200 m2 and 1650 m2,
of each leg behave as a truss
respectively. Beams in the upper half of
member. The columns of each leg
the tower provide continuity between the
are made up of a hollow square
four legs before they join to form a single
cross-section, formed by a series of
leg. The spans of these beams vary from
angles and flat sections.
1.8 m to 15.7 m.

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 STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
Materials
The primary material used to build the Eiffel
Tower was puddle iron supplied from the
Pompey forges, East of France. 7,300 metric
tons of iron, 18,000 parts, and 2,500,000
rivets were used to construct the tower.
Dimensions
The Eiffel Tower is 1024 feet tall without the antennas. The
total width of the tower is 410 feet (on the ground). The width of
each pillar is 82 feet (on the bottom), and the 4 pillars form 410
square feet sideways square. The first, second, and third floors
stand 187 feet, 377 feet, and 906 feet from the ground.

The Tower’s Truss Design

The Tower is made up of thousands of individually shaped
metal beams, each of which provides support for the weight of
the structure. The strength of the truss is attributed to the
fact that its metal beams are held together by their angles
rather than their length. The Tower can withstand these forces
even when its capacity is increased to its maximum. In addition
to its stability, the Tower is designed with a truss system. Even
when the wind is howling, the metal beams in a bridge can flex
and move in a controlled manner. This is why the Tower is
resistant to strong winds without causing damage.
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CASE STUDY 2
BANK OF
CHINA
TOWER
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location:
Architect:
Structural engineer:
Height from street to roof :
Number of stories:
Number of levels below
ground:
Space area:
Ground floor area:
The highest floor area:
Building use :
Building cost:
Materials used:
Hong Kong, China
I. M. Pei
Leslie Robertson
1028ft (367.4 m)
70 stories
4 stories
1.4 million square feet
29,000 square feet
7,265 square feet
Office
$150 million
Steel and Concrete
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Plans & Joints
The shape of the envelope
changes dramatically
Maintaining the purity of
the geometry was the
challenge around which
Floor 4
the very structural
feasibility of the project
turned.
Floor 51 & 52
Floor 25 Floor 38
A critical joint at which the vertical,
horizontal, and diagonal members of the
steel frame all come together. This joint
is not a welded connection, nor is it all
steel. A block of reinforced concrete
that envelopes all the columns,
stiffening trusses, beams, and cross-
braces.
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LATERAL LOADS
Columns: The shape
causes eccentric
Shear Walls:
load. Off-center
Only a small portion of the loads
loads would cause
carried to the service cores in the
excessive stresses
lower floors flows directly to the
in columns. The
foundations.
solution is that
using uniform shear
Planar Trusses
Transfer truss that wrap around every 13th force mechanism
story as the horizontal bracing were that could
concealed, thus the horizontal expression counteract and
was removed • Create planar trusses in eliminate the
structural steel with the frames of but two bending. The
different geometries • In the corners of the system is
towers, we knitted the columns of the planar outstanding of its
frames into space trusses – all within a economy of
reinforced concrete column material
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