Displacement-based design of tall earthquake-resistant diagrid systems

Abstract

In recent years, the system known as diagrid (diagonal grid) has been used in several tall buildings around the world. Despite the large advantages that the innovative structural system represents in terms of sustainability, its use has not been sufficiently studied for high seismicity zones. This paper develops a displacement-based methodology for the conception and preliminary performance-based seismic design of perimeter diagrid systems. The methodology applies to tall buildings, whose dynamic response is significantly influenced by global flexural drift deformations. The methodology is exemplified by the preliminary design of a 24-story building located in the soft soil condition of Mexico City. The paper provides some detailed background behind the performance-based design and highlights the benefit of simple, reasonable, and safe structural estimations in terms of the monetary and environmental cost. It is concluded first, that the proposed methodology yields diagonal grid systems that adequately satisfy predefined deterministic performance levels; and second, that a perimeter diagonal grid system is an attractive structural option for tall buildings located in high seismicity zones.