High-rise Building Model Research Articles

Semantic Enrichment of a BIM Model Using Revit: Automatic Annotation of Doors in High-Rise Residential Building Models Using Machine Learning

Semantic Enrichment of a BIM Model Using Revit: Automatic Annotation of Doors in High-Rise Residential Building Models Using Machine Learning

Numerical reconstruction of atmospheric boundary layer seasonal turbulent wind field over a complex forest terrain

The wind characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over complex forest terrains are inherently intricate, influenced by the interplay of rugged topography, seasonal climatic fluctuations, and periodic vegetation dynamics. These effects are especially evident in the near-ground wind field, which exhibits substantial seasonal variability. Conventional wind characterization methods, as outlined in current standards, often fail to accurately capture these seasonal variations, thereby complicating the reconstruction of the near-ground ABL turbulent wind field in complex forest terrains. Accordingly, we employ the narrow band synthetic random flow generation (NSRFG) technique within large eddy simulation (LES) to generate inflow turbulence representing the growing and baldness seasons in a complex forest terrain by adjusting parameter equations for seasonal adaptation and introducing new empirical equations for the turbulent spectrum. Subsequently, we verified the seasonal turbulent flow's statistical characteristics and flow structure to assess its feasibility and validity, ultimately establishing a ‘seasonal numerical wind field’ model. Finally, the seasonally modified LES-NSRFG method was applied to the numerical simulation of turbulent flow around the Commonwealth Advisory Aeronautical Research Council (CAARC) standard high-rise building model. A comprehensive comparison of wind effects was conducted for the CAARC model under varying incoming flow conditions. The results indicate that seasonal winds in a complex forest terrain significantly affect the building's vortex wake, increasing the irregularity and complexity of the structural wind pressure and base moment coefficients. Thus, the seasonal wind effect must be considered when designing wind-resistant engineering structures in forest regions moving forward.

Investigation on vortex-induced vibrations of square-sectioned high-rise buildings with various structural eccentricities

Structural eccentricities in a high-rise building can induce strong modal coupling, which therefore influences vortex-induced vibration (VIV) responses of the building and consequently affects human comfort within the building. This study investigates the VIV behaviour of square-sectioned high-rise buildings with different structural eccentricities, using both wind tunnel test and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. Firstly, a novel method for constructing the multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) aeroelastic model of a high-rise building with specified structural eccentricities is introduced in detail. Seven MDOF aeroelastic models with different structural eccentricities are constructed. Wind tunnel test is then conducted to examine VIV responses of these high-rise building models. Effects of eccentricity ratio and direction on the models’ VIV responses are comprehensively investigated. In addition, CFD simulation is conducted to elucidate the aerodynamic mechanism of VIV responses of high-rise buildings with structural eccentricities. Results reveal that the direction of structural eccentricity influences the reattachment of vortex shedding over the building, which in turn affects the lift and, consequently, the building’ VIV responses. The maximum VIV response of the building models exhibits a negative correlation with the windward eccentricity ratio, while a positive correlation with the leeward eccentricity ratio. Results from CFD simulation demonstrate that the structural eccentricity tends to broaden the wake downstream, resulting in a reduction in the building’s vortex shedding frequency and, consequently, the Strouhal number. Findings of the present study can enhance the understanding of VIV behaviours of high-rise buildings with structural eccentricities, providing valuable insights for the wind design of such structures.

Estimation of extreme wind pressure coefficients of buildings using POT with automated threshold selection

Extreme wind pressure coefficients of the high-rise buildings are critical for determining wind loads on components and claddings. To address the issue of insufficient samples in the widely used block maximum (BM) method, the peak over threshold (POT) method has been introduced in wind engineering for more effective and accurate estimation of extreme wind pressure coefficients. However, it is quite a challenge to appropriately select the threshold. This study proposes an automated threshold selection procedure using L-moment theory. Monte Carlo simulation is conducted to substantiate the theoretical feasibility of this procedure. Utilizing data from wind-tunnel pressure measurements of a high-rise building model, the study automatically selects thresholds and estimates extreme wind pressure coefficients. Comparative analysis with the BM method demonstrates that thresholds determined through automated threshold selection procedure exhibit stability with minimal deviation from standard extreme values. Furthermore, the developed procedure can effectively adapt to non-Gaussian characteristics of the sample time histories.

Seismic behavior of high-rise modular buildings with simplified models of inter-module connections

Inter-module connections serve as crucial components, horizontally and vertically connecting individual modules to form modular buildings. This paper presents a component-based model that divides inter-module connections into vertical and horizontal connection components, facilitating the simplification of shear and axial behaviors for input into the global numerical model. Initially, experimental studies and numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the shear and axial behavior of these connection components, following which simplified connection component models were derived. Subsequently, a component-based model of inter-module connections was established, in which the shear and axial properties of the vertical and horizontal components were represented by nonlinear connector elements. Finally, the proposed component-based model was incorporated directly into the global frame models of high-rise steel modular buildings, and the seismic behavior was evaluated. The accuracy of the proposed component-based model was investigated by comparing the natural vibration characteristics and global building responses of high-rise steel modular buildings with traditional empirical models established based on assumptions of rigid or pinned fixities. The results reveal that traditional empirical models fail to accurately represent the discontinuous properties of inter-module connections, resulting in an overestimation of structural lateral stiffness. In contrast, the component-based model accounts for the actual load-transfer mechanisms of vertical and horizontal components, providing a more accurate understanding of the natural vibration characteristics and seismic response of high-rise steel modular buildings. The proposed component-based model establishes a critical link between isolated connection behavior and structural response assessment for high-rise steel modular buildings, making it well-suited for accurately predicting global building responses.

Comparison between the Dynamic Responses of Steel Buildings with Medium and Deep Columns under Several Seismic Intensities

Structural engineers often use deep columns in high seismic areas to reduce drifts, yet this somehow contradicts what is stated in some tests in the sense that even though deep columns may satisfy current seismic provisions, they can suffer premature twisting; this is an indication that a lot of research is needed in this area. Numerical and experimental studies have been conducted to estimate the response of steel buildings with medium and deep columns under the action of static and cyclic loading; however, studies accounting for the dynamic characteristics of buildings and strong motions are not common. In addition, responses in terms of local parameters have not been considered either. In this study, the nonlinear seismic responses of steel buildings with perimeter moment-resisting frames and medium (W14) columns are numerically calculated and compared to those of similar steel buildings with equivalent deep columns in terms of cost (W27 and larger). Low-, mid-, and high-rise steel building models with different dynamic characteristics, as well as several strong motions with different frequency contents, are considered. Results indicate that the drifts of the models with medium columns may be up to 140% greater than those of the models with deep columns. Significant reductions are also observed for top displacements, normalized interstory shears, and combined normalized axial loads and bending moments. Hence, the seismic demands of the buildings with deep columns may be much smaller than those of the buildings with medium columns and, therefore, the buildings with deep columns exhibit a superior behavior, which results in more economical designs. The reduction is greater for the case of low- and mid-rise buildings than for high-rise buildings. One of the reasons for this is that as medium columns are replaced by deep columns, the stiffness and the strength increase, which are lower in the tallest model.

Acoustic wind tunnel experimental study of aerodynamic noise distribution in high-rise buildings

Wind-induced aerodynamic disturbance has become a major noise source affecting residents in super high-rise buildings. To investigate the distribution characteristics of aerodynamic noise on high-rise building surfaces in strong wind conditions and the impact of wind speed and direction, this paper pioneers the application of the acoustic wind tunnel method based on microphone array localization to the experimental study of the surface acoustic pressure field of a high-rise building model, the far-field noise spectrum of which is obtained using the microphone array sensor. The beamforming calculation method was used to obtain the spectrum and localization cloud. By comparing the spectra and cloud diagrams under different process conditions and based on existing building wind pressure reports, it is concluded that: the noise source is always located at the height of the connecting corridor where there is large wind pressure pulsation in the two building models; the aerodynamic noise is more pronounced around building gaps where the airflow is more disturbed and also in the oncoming wind trailing direction where the wind pressure pulsation is more pronounced. An increase in wind speed increased noise source amplitude from 30 dB to 60 dB, and the location of the noise source shifted backwards to the tail of the incoming wind. This paper shows that the acoustic wind tunnel method based on microphone array localization technology can obtain the aerodynamic noise intensity on the surfaces of super high-rise buildings and reasonably predict the location of the sound source. This article puts forward suggestions to reduce noise in high-rise buildings based on experimental results.

Developing preliminary cost estimates for foundation systems of high-rise buildings

This study provided a unique Artificial intelligence (AI) model for the cost estimation of the foundation system for high-rise buildings. First, parametric data research was conducted, including 180 examples of foundation systems for high-rise building models related to criteria such as average column spacing, floor height, slap load, overall weight, base shear, and over. In addition, moment, gravity load, seismic load, design load, various columns (mid-edge-corner), soil profile, bearing capacity, GWT, excavation depth, and foundation systems are all factors to consider (shallow and deep footing). The research encompassed column spacing (5.0, 7.0, and 9.0 m) and the number of stories from 15 to 35, with an average cost decrease of 15%. The AI model utilizes extensive machine learning algorithms to analyze structural and geotechnical parameters. It provides a predictive tool that improves decision-making in the preliminary design. The methodology includes collecting data, training models utilizing innovative neural network techniques and validating them against current cost estimation models. The findings indicate that the AI model significantly improves the accuracy of cost estimations, with a precision rate of 95%, compared to traditional methods. Moreover, the model presents a potential cost savings of up to 15%. Construction designers and decision-makers may utilize the study’s findings to increase the accuracy of foundation system selection, lower costs and construction length, and improve overall project performance. Future work may involve applying this concept to infrastructure and substructure projects and collecting more data for benchmarking and empirical study.

High-rise campus building cooling energy share using floor area of spaces

High-rise campus had varying energy characteristics on each floor, impacting cooling energy consumption. Understanding the cooling energy needs based on space characteristics plays a role in designing strategies to reduce energy consumption. It is essential to identify the cooling energy consumption for each floor function within high-rise campus buildings. The study conducted an analysis of high-rise campus characteristics by identifying and categorizing spaces based on their energy consumption zones. Spatial data was processed using mapping, and cluster correspondence analysis was employed to understand spatial relationships within high-rise campus buildings and their energy consumption. This research was carried out using Energy plus as an energy simulation based on a high-rise campus building model in the Jakarta sub urban region on a hot humid tropic. Campus building could be divided into four types of floors, as general, office, classroom and laboratory. The highest cooling energy was the laboratory.

Simulation and Optimization Study on the Ventilation Performance of High-Rise Buildings Inspired by the White Termite Mound Chamber Structure.

High-rise buildings often use mechanical systems to assist ventilation to maintain the stability of their internal environments, and the energy consumption of mechanical ventilation poses a great challenge to urban environments and energy systems. The ventilation system of termite mounds with a combination of internal main and attached chambers is one of the classic examples of nature's bionic approach to maintaining a stable internal ventilation environment for large-volume structures. In this study, based on the inspiration of the internal ventilation chamber structure of bionic termite mounds, we constructed seven high-rise building chamber ventilation models based on the chamber structure of termite mounds with main chambers, main chambers plus single-attached chambers (three types), and main chambers plus double-attached chambers (three types) under natural ventilation conditions, aiming at obtaining the optimal low-energy and high-efficiency chamber ventilation model for bionic termite mounds in high-rise buildings. (1) The wind speed and wind pressure of the high-rise building with the addition of the bionic termite mound chamber structure is higher than that of the traditional chamber-free high-rise building in the sample floors, the maximal difference of the wind speed between the two models is 0.05 m/s, and the maximal difference of the wind speed of the single building is 0.14 m/s, with the maximal difference of the wind speed of the single building being 0.14 m/s; and the natural ventilation environment can be satisfied by a high-rise building with a chamber. (2) After increasing the single-attached chamber structure of the bionic termite mound, the difference in wind speed of different floors is 0.15 m/s, which is 0.10 m/s higher than that of the high-rise building model with the main chamber only. (3) Under the bionic termite mound chamber high-rise building double-attached chamber model, the maximum difference in wind speed of each floor sampling point can reach 0.19 m/s, while the wind pressure cloud map shows a stable wind environment system. (4) Two attached chambers are added at A and B of the high-rise building to form the a4 model of the chamber of the high-rise building with a double-chamber bionic termite mound. According to the results, it can be seen that the model of the nine floor sampling points of the maximum wind speed difference has six places for the highest value, and the single building wind speed difference for the minimum value of 0.10 m/s. The study aims to optimize the connectivity and ventilation performance of high-rise buildings under natural ventilation conditions and to promote the green and sustainable design of high-rise buildings.

The interactive indoor-outdoor building energy modeling for enhancing the predictions of urban microclimates and building energy demands

There is a lack of an urban building energy modeling framework that considers the influence of surrounding buildings and local urban climate on building thermal performance. This can lead to inaccurate results since the thermal performance of individual buildings is heavily influenced by their surrounding built and climatic environment. This study establishes an interactive indoor-outdoor building energy modeling method to enhance the predictions of urban microclimates and building energy demands by coupling an urban physics model with a physics-based building energy model. Validation of the interactive coupling scheme uses field measurement datasets. Parametric simulation and analysis are conducted to understand the influence of the roof-to-canyon width ratio, canyon orientation, and ground vegetation fraction on canyon temperature, building energy consumption, and energy demand. Furthermore, the impacts of building energy model complexity (e.g., detailed vs. simplified building models) and coupling approaches on canyon temperature and building energy profiles are demonstrated using two case study buildings. In comparison with the one-way coupling approach, cooling energy consumption predicted with the dynamic two-way coupling approach varies by 3.5 % and 0.5 % for the detailed medium office building model and high-rise building model, respectively, and peak cooling demand varies by 8.4 % and 7.0 % for the detailed medium office building model and high-rise building model, respectively. This study also suggests that adopting a complex two-way coupling approach with environmental data exchange at various elevations is necessary for modeling tall buildings at the urban scale.

Analisis Komparatif Daya Dukung Tanah & Penurunan Pondasi Menggunakan Metode Analitis Dan Metode Elemen Hingga (Studi Kasus : Borehole 1 Proyek Apartment Mega Techno City Di Kota Batam)

Batam City is a city with high attractiveness for tourists, both local and foreign tourists. In an effort to support and accommodate tourists visiting the city of Batam, the construction of hotels and apartments has been intensively carried out. Due to limited land, the high rise building model is one of the most effective building models to build. To guarantee high rise building performance, it is necessary to plan well in design from a structural point of view. In this case foundation as one of the elements of the structure is also an important part, so it needs to be planned well too. The bearingXcapacity of theXfoundation and the settlement in the foundation areXtwo important things that need to beXconsidered in foundation planning. In this study, an analysis of the bearing capacity of the foundation using the Meyerhof method and the finite elementXmethod (Plaxis 2D) and foundation settlement analysis using the elastic reduction method and the finite elementXmethod (Plaxis 2D) was carried out on the Mega Techno City Apartment construction project in Batam. The results of this analysis are in the form of bearing capacity based on the Meyerhof method is 3.330,8 kN and 3.351,6 kN based on the finite element method, as for the settlement, 53,1 mm is obtained for the elastic settlement method and 9,64 mm for the finite element method, the settlement still meets the SNI 8640 – 2017 standard. Based on these external differences, it can be used as a reference in conservative design.

Effect of void space arrangement on wind power potential and pressure coefficient distributions for high-rise void buildings

High-rise void building complexes can augment the permeation of airflows over buildings, and thereby strengthen urban wind energy harvesting for realization of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This paper considers the wind over a typical 2×2 compact high-rise building array with the openings to analyze the wind power potential at varying void sizes, locations of voids, and direction of incoming wind. The predicted mean wind speeds and turbulence intensities are compared against the measured data with 4 generic high-rise building models having voids in an atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel for validation of the computational model. Based on the comparative results from four common Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models including the standard, realizable, renormalization group (RNG) k-ε, and shear-stress transport (SST) k-ω models as well as the Reynolds stress model (RSM), the RSM approach can provide the most accurate predictions of streamwise mean velocity and turbulence intensity. The present study then conducts CFD simulations to explore the effects of opening configuration and wind direction on the wind field around high-rise void buildings. Considering the variations of void sizes of 10 × 10 m2, 12.5 × 12.5 m2, 15 × 15 m2, void heights of z/H = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and wind directions of 0°, 45°, respectively, the simulated results indicate elevated wind power densities with acceptable turbulence intensities over the upstream gap passage and void channels to achieve prospective urban wind power harvest and mitigate wind load on structures of high-rise void buildings.

Accurate Estimation of Inter-Story Drift Ratio in Multistory Framed Buildings Using a Novel Continuous Beam Model

This study presents a novel method for accurately predicting the dynamic behavior of multistory frame buildings under earthquake ground motion. The proposed method allows approximately estimating the inter-story drift ratio, a crucial parameter strongly associated with building damage, its distribution along the building height, and its maximum value location. An equivalent continuous beam model with a rotation at the base, consisting of a combination of a shear beam and a flexural beam, is proposed to achieve this. This model derives closed-form solutions for the building’s dynamic characteristics. The lateral deformations along the height of frame buildings subjected to a given earthquake load, particularly the inter-story drift ratio profiles, and the maximum inter-story drift ratio parameter, are investigated. The proposed continuous model requires two dimensionless parameters: the lateral stiffness ratio (α) and the rotation at the base (θ), representing the drift ratio of the first story. For the expression of the lateral stiffness ratio (α) coefficient, a simple equation is also proposed using the beam-to-column stiffness ratio (ρ, or Blume coefficient) associated with the framed (discrete) system. Various building models are employed to validate the proposed method, demonstrating its applicability to both high-rise and low-rise building configurations. With the results obtained, it is shown that the proposed continuous model can be used not only for high-rise or multistory building models but also for low-rise building models.

Along-wind and across-wind coupling analysis of high-rise buildings: Modeling and parameter identifications

High-rise buildings, with similar natural frequencies of sway modes in two orthogonal directions, can have coupled vibrations when exposed to strong wind exhibiting complex fluid-structure interaction and aero-elastic effects. This paper studies this coupled vibration with proposing of a mathematical model for both the in-plane and out-of-plane self-excitation force. A single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) and two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) aero-elastic square section high-rise building models are tested in wind tunnel to provide data for the analytical modeling. A new strategy to estimate the aerodynamic parameters and self-excitation forces is proposed. Parametric studies show that the self-excitation forces of the SDOF and 2DOFs models have significant difference. The out-of-plane self-excitation force acting in the along-wind direction induced by the across-wind vibration can become dominating inducing large amplitude vibration in the along-wind direction. The wind induced coupling vibrations for other tall buildings can similarly be studied in detail with the proposed strategy.

Simulation case study of stack pressure impact on thermal load in high-rise buildings

The reference building models in the EnergyPlus tool do not consider the stack effect. This is not an issue for small and low-rise buildings. However, this is significant in evaluating the heating and cooling load of high-rise buildings. This study evaluates and quantifies this stack effect in building energy simulation, EnergyPlus. The high-rise commercial building model in the EnergyPlus reference building set was used as a simulation test bed. The vertical multi-stories shaft zones were added inside the core zone in the existing building model. Then, the airflow network model was set in EnergyPlus so the internal airflow including the vertical and horizontal directions through the shaft zone as well as the core and perimeter zones were configured. The simulation model was calibrated against the actual pressure distribution between the core and perimeter zones in all floors of high-rise buildings from the literature. This model calibration was conducted manually by changing the discharge coefficient of the openings between thermal zones. The heating and cooling load of the proposed model were compared to the existing model which does not consider the vertical airflow through the shaft zones. The quantification with relative load mismatch was analyzed by floors and environment including the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor, and wind speed. Moreover, the impact of the air mixing and infiltration on the heating and cooling load was quantified. The result of this study reveals the significance of the stack effect in calculating the heating and cooling load.

Effects of Corner Set−Backs on Wind Loads and Wind Induced Responses of Rectangular Tall Buildings

In order to investigate the effects of corner set-backs on wind loads and wind-induced responses of rectangular high-rise buildings, pressure measurements were carried out on a benchmark model (CARRC) and four models with different rates (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) of corner set-backs in a boundary layer wind tunnel. The test results show that the corner set-backs contribute to reducing along-wind loads of the rectangular high-rise building models, and the maximum reduction happens at 10% corner set-back. The across-wind loads decrease as the rate of corner set-back is increasing and the maximum reduction emerges at 20% corner set-back. The RMS accelerations at the top of models also decrease with the increasing of rate of corner set-back in along-wind and across-wind. Through the fitting of test results, empirical formulas for the correlation factors of base moment coefficients of rectangular high-rise buildings with different rates of corner set-back are put forward. Moreover, the correlation factors for the power spectrum densities of base moments are listed at typical frequencies corresponding to the practical tall buildings. The outputs of this paper aim to serve as references for wind-resistant design of similar buildings in strong wind region.

Mean wind flow reconstruction of a high-rise building based on variational data assimilation using sparse pressure measurements

The paper investigates the applicability of the variational data assimilation approach to reconstruct three-dimensional wind flows around a high-rise building model, and provides guidelines towards an efficient reconstruction. The objective is to determine the best distributed control parameters based on the Reynolds-averaged-Navier–Stokes (RANS) model coupled with pressure data. The strategy considers a distributed additive forcing control parameter, acting on the momentum equation and/or the transport equation of turbulent dissipations, where the closure is performed. To avoid unphysical solutions and accelerate the optimization convergence a Sobolev gradient descent regularization is proposed and compared with penalty techniques. The proposed data assimilation framework is applied to a realistic wind engineering estimation problem combining sparse wall pressure measurements with a routinely used industrial three-dimensional RANS numerical code. Results demonstrate that wall-pressure data is a meaningful enough piece of information to recover accurately the wake flow extension. A hybrid control parameter on the transport of the dissipation and the momentum equations leads to very precise results, whereas the Sobolev gradient descent direction gives efficient regularization and a fast convergence. These findings can be useful for future application of such a data assimilation technique to wind engineering problems.

3D BASED SMOKE FIRE EMISSION AND EMERGENCY EVACUATION SIMULATION IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS

Abstract. High-rise buildings, with high number of population, have always been among the concerns discussed in urban crisis management. One of the crucial aspects of high-rise buildings is having a proper and timely action plan for evacuation in the case of emergencies such as fires. The spread and progression of fire smoke in high-rise buildings are affected by the architectural design of the building, and having a three-dimensional (3D) model of high-rise buildings can play key role in damage reduction in such cases. This paper, first presents a method for 3D smoke emission based on utilizing 2D cadastral data to generate a 3D model of the buildings. Then, in step of smoke fire emission simulation, the influence of different smoke movement paths such as the entrance/exit doors, windows, smoke barrier, stairs, and elevators, are examined in different scenarios. Next, the emergency evacuation of occupancies with different behavioral and physical characteristics is simulated. The results indicate that 2D cadastral data of apartments can be employed as a suitable source to create 3D models of high-rise buildings, and allows to examine the emergency evacuation of residents by including the smoke simulation spread in the building.

Consistency improved random flow generation method for large eddy simulation of atmospheric boundary layer

Realistic turbulence is the key component to obtain accurate simulations for large eddy simulation of atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). At present, synthetic turbulence methods have been widely applied, but there are still some defects such that spatial correlations and cross-correlations between different velocity components cannot be strictly reproduced. Thus, we propose a new inflow turbulence generation (ITG) method, the consistency improved random flow generation (CIRFG) method. The proposed method is derived to model the spatial correlations and cross-correlations between different velocity components by explicitly embedding turbulence characteristics, thus it can be used widely in arbitrary situations without any empirical parameters. Meanwhile, the CIRFG method is maintained to satisfy arbitrary mean velocity, turbulence intensity, frequency spectra, temporal correlation, etc. Further, according to the simulation of ABL flows, it is verified that the new method has good self-sustainability of wind profiles. Finally, compared with the simulations of flow around high-rise building model with wind tunnel tests, it is demonstrated that the proposed method has high accuracy and feasibility.