Simultaneous Effect of Seismic Intensity and Shear Wall Design on the Cost of High-Rise Buildings in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research study intends to investigate the influence of shear wall design and seismic intensities on the potential cost of Reinforced Concrete (RC) high-rise buildings in Saudi Arabia. The seismic intensities of the proposed locations vary from relatively low to relatively high. Conventional and ductile design methods are considered for designing the shear walls in different locations. The influence of these selected locations and employed design methods associated with the anticipated cost is numerically computed and quantified. The three-dimensional finite element models are created using the available structural software package ETABS. Cost analyses are performed and obtained for the conventionally designed buildings in the considered different locations. The corresponding cost analyses considering the ductile design of shear walls are also computed for all the considered models. Reinforcement steel material and labor costs are utilized to determine the total cost of the shear walls. Other cost elements such as concrete, formwork, machinery, finishing, etc. are not included. The relation between spectral accelerations and required reinforcement for each shear wall design is made. Sensitivity analysis, using @Risk software, with respect to the labor cost is performed to cover the expected risk during the COVID-19 Pandemic.