THE GHERKIN

RAM RAVI HIRAMAN

BARCH/10025/15
 INTRODUCTION

•Height to top of dome: 179.8 m

•Height to highest occupied floor level: 167.1 m
•Number of floors above ground: 40
•Number of basement levels: single basement across whole
site

Ground floor and first floor consist of reception and a series
of shops at outer edge of the building with the arcade.
Third tosixteenth floor is the office of swiss re insurance
company.
There are private dining area at 38-40floors.
The basement is used for the parking (only two wheelers ,no
four wheelers are allowed in theparking).
The design provides column-free floor space, light and views,
and incorporates many sustainable building design features.
Spiralling light wells allow the maximum amount of sunlight
to flood the interiors.
Atria between the radiating fingers of each floor link
together vertically to form a series of informal break-out
spaces. Each floor rotates 5 degrees from the one below.
DiA-GRiD = DiAgonal + GRiD

free standing structure without internal core.

The presence of this civic

structure has influenced Norman
Foster & Arup explore diagrid
system in the future. The diagrid
structure began appear in
contemporary steel design after
initial example project – The
London GLA, Gherkin Tower
(Swiss Re) and Hearts Tower.
Water Tower by Valdamir Shukov
How diagrid works?
How diagrid works?

Original diagonal bracing member laid over exterior structure as supplementary

support. However, the current diagrid system that used in exterior structures is
primary mean of support.

Diagrid tower is model as vertical cantilever. The size of diagonal grid is defined by
the dividing tower height into series of modules.

Diagrid “tube” does not have the sufficient strength to achieve stability in the
structure. Ring beam connection to the floor edge can tied diagrid with the floor and
the core.

Normally multiple floors interesting with each long diagonal of the grid, these
intersections will occur at the nodes as well as the several instances along the
diagonal.

When the diagonal bracing extends over several stories, each floor’s edge beam can
frame into the diagonal members providing connection the core to support the floor
edge beam.
“diagrid is a series of triangle that combine gravity and
lateral support into one, making the building to be stiff,
efficient, and lighter than a traditional high rise”

Cantor Seinuk from WSP

These diagonals were affected by the width and height ratio.

The base of the building have to designed to resist moment while the top have to
resist the shear force. As a result, the foundation of a diagrid system is more
concentrate on a point to reach stability

The diagonal members in diagrid carry shear and moment. The optical angle of
the diagrid will dependent on the building height and module. The expected
optimal angle for diagonal members for diagrid structure will fall in the range of
60° to 70°.

“ a pure steel diagrid tower doesnot require a core for lateral resistance ”
Diagrid nodes

(1) pin node

Not rigid pin connection can be used in the symmetrical structure since the
structure have balance load.
(2) Rigid Node
the needs of rigid nodes to assist the structure to support during the construction
process.
 Diagrid Joint

(i)diagrid structure sit external and the envelope or curtain wall will clad on floor
structure,

(ii) diagrid structure sit internal and the envelope have to clad on the diagrid.

There are two main joint for the diagrid structure: welding or
bolting. This have to rely on the what appearance require for
the design. for example when the structure to be expose,
welding cans provides better aesthetic value.

In the contrast, if the structure will be expose to external

and cannot be visible, bolt and nut will be the better choice.
Awelding connection is needed if the diagrid structures
decided to architectural exposed it but required more skillful
workers .

Somehow, if the structure are to be clad or concealed like Welding joint for the Swiss Re
Hearts Tower, the diagrid can choose to bolted on site for Tower interior

speed erection.
Vertical Load

The gravity and vertical load from the building will distribute toward the apex of the
diagonal structure. Somehow, it will affected by the height and angle of the
diagonal.

The vertical forces will be divide/disperse into the other diagonal member.
Compression and tension result in the diagonal will transfer into the bottom
section.
Lateral Load

the lateral load happened toward the "flange" of the structure receiving directional
wind load. this will result the lateral load into two part; windward and leeward.

As a consequence, these diagonal members receiving two different direction of

force load. It will respond relatively. The structure able to resist both force and
achieve equilibrium.
Diagrid (diagonal + grid) is a design for constructing large buildings with steel that
creates triangular structures with diagonal support beams. It requires less structural
steel than a conventional steel frame.Hearst Tower in New York City, designed by Sir
Norman Foster, reportedly uses 21 percent less steel than a standard design.
The Diagrid also obviates the need for large corner columns and provides a better
distribution of load in the case of a compromised building.
The perimeter ‘diagrid’ structure The perimeter steel structural solution was developed
specifically for this building in order to address the issues generated by the unusual geometry in
a manner that was fully integrated with the architectural concept and generated the maximum
benefit for the client.

The final solution was one of a number of approaches that were assessed in detail foroverall
structural efficiency, internal plannning benefits, buildability, cost and risk. The design avoids
large cantilevers and keeps the light-wells free of floor structure by inclining the perimeter
columns to follow the helical path of the six-fingered floors up through the building.

A balanced diagrid structure is formed by generating a pattern of intersecting columns spiralling

in both directions. The addition of horizontal hoops, which connect the columns at their
intersection points and resist the forces arising from the curved shape, means that the
perimeter structure is largely independent of the floors.

The hoops also turn the diagrid into a very stiff triangulated shell, which provides excellent
stability for the tower. This benefit of the diagrid means that the core does not need to resist
wind forces and can be designed as an openplanned steel structure providing adaptable internal
space.

Foundation loads are also reduced compared with a building stabilised by the core.
STRUCTURALELEVATION

41
DIAGRIDSYSTEM
INTERLOCKING DETAILS
A-frame • Aluminum coated tube steel • series
of two-stories-high, end to end arrangement. •
one full diamond is four-stories tall.

There is a special connector that transfers

loads, both vertically and horizontally at the
“nodes” which are rigid monolithicand welded
together.

The diagonals are CHSmembers, with cross

section between 508 x 40 mm at the lowest
floors and 273 x 12.5 mm at the top, whilethe
chord members have RHS,250 x 300 mm with
wall thickness of 25mm. The circular central
core, which has constant diameter along
elevation, does not contribute to the lateral
resistance and rigidity, being a simple frame
structure.

The elements of the facade.:

Openable glass screen.
Perforated aluminium louvers(internal
sun-screen).
A column casing of aluminium.
Façade frame of extruded aluminium.

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43
DIAGRIDSYSTEM
INTERLOCKINGDETAILS

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WIND

• The smooth flow of wind around the building was

one of the mainconsiderations.
• Minimum impact on thelocal wind environment.
• The tower is aerodynamically designed to reduce
wind load on the structure, whilst the lower part
tapers so that wind wraps around the tower.

An aerodynamic
form, reducing
effects of wind

AIR LATERALLOADING

• These loads are all absorbed through the glass

façade and eventually transferred to the diagrid.
• The pressurized air from the wind passes into the
building through a natural ventilation system,which
is incorporated through a double skin.
SHAPE

Wind load
The overall cylindrical shape allows for the wind
to move around the building.
How does this shape effect the horizontal wind
loads?
• Decreased buffeting
• Reduced vibrations
• Diminished fluttering

CONNECTIONS

Diagrid
• There is a special connector that transfers
loads, both vertically and horizontally at
the “nodes” which are rigid monolithic
and welded together.
• Rigid node connections at intersecting
members.
Core
• Rigid connections of steel beams and
columns.
Sources
http://www.archinomy.com/case-
studies/669/30-st-mary-axe-the-gherkin-
london

https://prezi.com/sxt_dfdzmijt/case-study-
for-the-gherkin/

http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/arch504u
kgreenarch/casestudies/swissre1.pdf

http://www.coopersfire.com/system/files/pri
vate/CaseStudy_The_Gherkin.pdf

http://skyscrapercenter.com/building/30-st-
mary-axe/2369

http://faculty.arch.tamu.edu/media/cms_pa
ge_media/4433/30StMaryAxe_1.pdf