Global Stability Study of a Reinforced Concrete Building: Comparison between Grid and Space Frame Model with an Integrated Model

Abstract

The verticalization in large urban centers has provided a series of new challenges for large buildings designers. The slender the structures are, more susceptible they are to second-order global efforts, making its verification indispensable for any reinforced concrete structure. As allies, technological advances and the processing power of computer systems have enabled greater productivity in the verification of the global stability of large buildings. Over the years, several structural models have been implemented in structural analysis and design, aiming to better simulate the actual behavior of structures. In view of this, the present work aims to perform a comparative analysis of the global stability of a reinforced concrete building, using the grid models associated with the space frame and the integrated model. Moreover, the research aims to verify the importance of the structural elements in the global stability of the building. In study two different structural systems were employed for the same building, verifying through the TQS software the conception that presents the best behavior according to the model used. Based on the results obtained, some guidelines are proposed regarding the use of structural models, indicating which one presents the best behavior according to the characteristics of the building.