Super High-rise Buildings Research Articles

Mechanical Performance and Selection Study of High-Rise and Super High-Rise Building Structural Systems

This study focuses on the structural systems of high-rise and super high-rise buildings, with particular emphasis on their mechanical performance and selection. The structural design of high-rise buildings is of paramount importance, requiring safety and stability to be ensured. This paper discusses various structural types, including steel structures, reinforced concrete structures, and their combination structures. Additionally, it analyzes the characteristics and applicability of various vertical load-bearing structures such as frames, shear walls, frame-shear wall systems, cores, and mega-structures, considering their performance under different heights and geographic conditions. Finally, it presents the maximum applicable heights for each structural system, emphasizing the significance of selection in meeting urban demands.

Study on seismic behavior and collapse risk of super high-rise braced mega frame-core tube structural system

The braced mega frame-core tube (BMFCT) structure could provide an efficient lateral-force resisting (LFR) system for high-rise or super high-rise buildings, especially for those higher than 500 m. The BMFCT structure is a dual LFR system, including the outer braced mega frame and the inner core tube. The seismic behavior and design method of this structural system is not clear. In this study, a parametric study based on collapse risk-targeted analysis is conducted to clarify seismic mechanism and performance and to make clear means of matching reasonable stiffness and setting energy-dissipation components. Five comparable BMFCT structures with different mega brace stiffness proportions and frame-tube stiffness ratios are designed. An efficient elasto-plastic modeling method is introduced to establish the accurate FE models. The corresponding collapse risks are calculated through Incremental Dynamic Analysis and fragility theory. The results show that the structural collapse risk increases with the increased frame-tube stiffness ratio. Therefore，the stiffness and bearing capacity of peripheral frames should be strengthened to ensure the structural collapse margin. On the other hand, the collapse resistance capacity gradually decreases with the increasing of the mega brace stiffness. Thus, the stiffness proportion of mega braces should be recommended to meet the basic lateral stiffness requirements, which shall not exceed 35 % of the overall structural stiffness. Moreover, the distribution feature and ideal arrangement of the energy dissipation components are proposed. The seismic design recommendation based on the uniform collapse risk is also proposed for the BMFCT system, which serves a reference for the structural design of super high-rise buildings.

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Seismic performance of special-shaped hexagonal concrete filled steel tubes with inner diaphragm plates and shear studs

With the development of the high-rise buildings, the columns with special cross-sectional shapes are frequently adopted for architectural and aesthetic purposes. The concrete filled steel tube (CFST) is a reasonable choice for such requirement due to the characteristics of excellent seismic performances, construction efficiency and strong adaptability to special shapes. This paper focuses on the seismic performance of a special-shaped hexagonal CFST column with an inner diaphragm plate and shear studs adopted in a super high-rise building. Experiments were conducted on five column specimens under axial compressive force and lateral cyclic loading to investigate the influence of various parameters including loading angle, axial compression ratio, shear studs and the type of in-filled concrete. In one of the specimens, the ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) was used as the in-filled concrete to substitute the conventional normal strength concrete, and the effects on the capacity and ductility of the column were revealed. Then the failure mode, the load-deflection curves, seismic performance indexes and the strain distribution were analyzed. The flexural capacities of the columns were evaluated by the fiber section model, where the failure criterion considering the buckling of steel tube was proposed and the effects of studs were included. Finally, the contribution to axial force and bending moment from outer steel tubes, inner diaphragm plate and in-filled concrete were calculated and compared based on the proposed model. It is found that the fiber section model considering the steel plate buckling and strengthening effects of studs precisely predicted the moment-curvature curves and the flexural capacity of the test specimens. The contribution of the inner diaphragm plate was considerable which could not be neglected.

Comprehensive application system of BIM technology in MULTIBAY project

With the rapid development of urbanization, the number of super high-rise buildings with increased building volume and scale is gradually increasing. At present, there are still problems such as inconsistent engineering information transmission and low efficiency of collaborative management among various participants in the construction of international super high-rise buildings. Because of this, based on engineering practice, using the advantages of BIM technology such as visualization, simulation, and collaboration, this article explores the application process of BIM technology in the design stage of super high-rise buildings, such as multi-disciplinary detailed design and drawing collision inspection, as well as in the construction stage, such as visual technical disclosure and scheme selection. It also constructs a BIM whole process management system, enabling BIM technology to better participate in the whole process of project construction, improving the level of project information technology, and providing engineering reference for the application of BIM technology in similar super high-rise buildings.

Collapse Resistance of Composite Structures with Various Optimized Beam–Column Connection Forms

Steel–concrete composite structures are widely used in composite frame structures and super high-rise buildings. However, the lack of relevant building design standards to ensure their structural stability under extreme conditions has led to potential failures in beam–column connections due to excessive loads. These failures can trigger the progressive collapse of high-rise buildings, resulting in severe casualties. In this study, a comparative numerical analysis was conducted to evaluate the collapse resistance of composite structures in the event of a middle-column loss scenario, focusing on six commonly used beam–column connections. The results show that while the six connections exhibit minimal differences under normal operating conditions, they display significant variations when subjected to extreme loads. Furthermore, a design concept is proposed to enhance the collapse capacity of these structures, and its effectiveness is validated via analysis.

How the surrounding multi-scale building clusters affect the wind loads of the super high-rise building

Many super high-rise buildings emerge in modern cities with urban development, facilitating work, accommodations, etc. However, their safety risks and accidents due to the wind are urgent problems with the complex flow field in cities. The research on wind loads of super high-rise buildings is thus crucial, but most studies tend to consider only the influence of the surrounding single-scale building clusters, rarely considering multi-scale ones. In this paper, the influence of the surrounding multi-scale building clusters on the wind loads of a super high-rise building is investigated. The wind field of a super high-rise building surrounded by four different arrangements of idealized, simplified buildings is first simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods: RANS and Hybrid LES/RANS models. It is found that surrounding tall buildings can significantly affect the pressure distribution on the windward and leeward sides of the super high-rise building, such as fluctuating, extreme, and mean wind pressure. The vortex, formed largely due to short buildings, increases the negative pressure at the back of the super high-rise building. In addition, simulations are conducted for the wind field around the CITIC Tower in Beijing CBD, and it is found that the flow field of the actual building group is more complex due to the strong interactions between buildings, and the flow near the ground is even more complex. All simulation results are validated by the wind tunnel tests. This study can provide important guidance for the wind safety design of super high-rise buildings and the future planning of urban buildings.

Building a one level 3D control network ensure the geodetic work in high-rise building construction

Super high-rise buildings are being built more and more in the world and in Vietnam. Currently, foreign experts are presiding over most of the geodetic work during the construction of super high-rise buildings in Vietnam. Vietnamese technicians are only allowed to participate in the implementation at the request of these experts. Therefore, in Vietnam, it is necessary to have a full research on geodetic work in the process of building super high-rise buildings. This article presents the research results of a group of lecturers in the Geodetic Department, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering on the ability to combine terrestrial and satellite measurements, which are measured by total station and GNSS, in geodetic work when building super high-rise. The research results are the process of building and data processing one-level spatial networks, determining three-dimensional coordinates in a unified coordinate system, step by step ensuring accuracy throughout the construction process, exploiting super high-rise buildings.

Simulation study on fire and evacuation of super high-rise commercial building

The construction of high-rise and multi-functional commercial buildings has emerged as a global trend, but it also introduces significant fire hazards. Consequently, there is a pressing need to examine the fire development trends in super high-rise commercial buildings and establish logical evacuation strategies. This study utilizes the Pyrosim program to simulate a typical fire scenario at the Yangtze River International Conference Center, allowing for the acquisition of essential fire parameters and available evacuation time. Subsequently, based on the complex functional zones and personnel distribution within the building, appropriate evacuation plans are devised and simulated using the Pathfinder software. The results reveal that by effectively utilizing stairs, elevators, and refuge floors in accordance with personnel distribution, evacuation efficiency can be substantially enhanced. Furthermore, the required evacuation time during nighttime fires is merely 36.6%–55.3% compared to unorganized evacuation. The findings of this study offer valuable theoretical guidance for the evacuation of super high-rise commercial buildings, holding immense significance in minimizing fire-related casualties within such structures.

The flowability and high-temperature resistance of manufactured sand concrete: An exploration for high-rise buildings

The depletion of natural concrete aggregates, e.g., river sands, is a gradual process, and hence, manufactured sand concrete (MSC) is widely used in various construction projects. The flowability and high-temperature resistance of MSC directly determine the transport of fresh concrete and the fire resistance of high-rise buildings. In this study, MSC with different superplasticizer contents and sand ratios was prepared and its flowability and high-temperature resistance were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) were used to characterize the microstructure and porosity of MSC. The flowability of MSC with higher than 0.75% superplasticizer content or lower than 43% sand ratio is suitable for super high-rise buildings according to GB/T 50081-2019. The mechanical properties of other MSC meet the C30 requirements except for the MSC with a sand ratio of 48%. And the relatively high superplasticizer content or low sand ratio can make the denser structure and lower porosity of MSC. In addition, the MSC with relatively high superplasticizer content and low sand ratio exhibits better resistance to high temperatures due to a denser structure. This study provides theoretical guidance for using MSC in high-rise buildings and studying fire performance.

Research on Dynamic Monitoring and Early Warning of the High-Rise Building Machine during the Climbing Stage

High-rise building machines (HBMs) are commonly used for the construction of super-high skyscrapers. Monitoring and early warning are critical to ensure the safety of giant HBMs during dynamic climbing. However, no indicators or control methods directly reflect the dynamic safety state of such large structures. In this study, the key factors influencing the climbing altitude were systematically analyzed and a method for the dynamic monitoring and early warning of HBMs during climbing was proposed. This approach is innovative for monitoring 3D attitude in real time using a string of fiber grating-level sensors mounted on the main bearing surface of the HBM. Three-level early warning indicators and control methods that reflect the safety status of the HBM during dynamic climbing have been established. The method was successfully applied to a 356-m tall high-rise project, the Shenzhen Xinghe Yabao Building. Results demonstrate that the proposed method can monitor and control the safety state of the HBM climbing process more accurately than current methods in real time. In addition, it significantly reduces the impact of factors such as preclimbing differential deformation and climbing attitude recognition on the accuracy of the HBM climbing control. This guarantees the safe management of HBMs and the efficient construction of super high-rise buildings. The results of this study can also be widely applied to safety monitoring of the dynamic operation of giant construction machinery.

Asymmetric and Cubic Nonlinear Energy Sink Inerters for Mitigating Wind-Induced Responses of High-Rise Buildings

Flexible high-rise buildings with low damping are prone to excessive vibration under strong wind loads. To explore a light-weight control device having desirable mitigation effects on responses and sound robustness against deviations in tuning parameters, the performance of two novel inerter-integrated nonlinear energy sinks (NESIs), i.e., asymmetric nonlinear energy sink inerter (Asym NESI) and cubic NESI, on wind-induced vibration control of super high-rise buildings is assessed in the present work. Based on the wind loads obtained from wind tunnel tests, a super high-rise building with a 300 m height is taken as the host structure in the numerical case study. The results show that Asym NESI can achieve reduction ratios of 38.5% and 11.3% on extreme acceleration and displacement, respectively, while the sensitivity indices of Asym NESI on displacement and acceleration control are only 70.5% and 62.5% of those of tuned mass damper inerter (TMDI) having identical mitigation effects. Although the sensitivity indices of cubic NESI are only 5.5% and 29.8% of those of TMDI, the moderate mitigation effects and large nonlinear stiffness ratio may prohibit its practical implementation. Overall, Asym NESI could be an alternative to TMDI due to the same mitigation effects but better robustness against possible detuning.

Integral Lifting of Steel Structure Corridor between Two Super High-Rise Buildings under Wind Load

This paper explores the lifting project of a steel structure corridor in the Haiyue Center, Quanzhou City, with a focus on mechanical response, safety, stability, and construction guidance under wind load conditions. The investigation attends to safety apprehensions stemming from the absence of horizontal constraints within the corridor, rendering it vulnerable to wind-induced loads. Measures are implemented to prevent collisions with nearby buildings during lifting. Stability challenges, including beam displacement and excessive stress, are examined. Anti-deformation trusses and inclined web rods are employed to ensure stability, prevent potential instabilities, and promote uniform deformation. The study also analyzes stress during asynchronous lifting. Through the enforcement of stringent parameters, where asynchronous displacement is confined to a maximum of 25 mm and asynchronous lifting load is limited to 20%, the structural integrity of the corridor is meticulously upheld. This judicious approach serves to not only avert deformation but also to forestall structural impairment. Therefore, the significance of stress distribution and deformation is emphasized when conducting the integral lifting of steel structure corridor between two super-tall buildings under wind load conditions. Simultaneously, relevant construction control measures have been devised, along with offering scientific recommendations for similar cases involving lifting construction processes under the influence of wind.

Effects of twisted wind flow on the mean wind load characteristics of super high-rise buildings with different heights

The phenomena of wind veering are frequently observed in the atmospheric boundary layer, and their influences have gradually attracted attention in the evaluation of wind effects of super high-rise buildings. However, most studies only focus on buildings with a certain height, and the wind load characteristics of buildings with different heights under twisted wind flows (TWFs) are not clear. This paper investigates the wind veering effects on mean wind load characteristics of square cross-sectional super high-rise buildings with different heights (1000 m, 800 m, 600 m) via wind tunnel test under TWFs. The mean wind pressure and aerodynamic force characteristics of three models under TWFs with different wind twist angles are analyzed, and the effects of wind twist angles on the aerodynamic forces and deviation phenomenon (including amplitude shift and angle shift) are discussed in detail. Finally, the effects of wind twist angle on amplitude and angle shifts in the longitudinal, lateral, and torsional directions are quantified, and the unfavorable layers are assessed. The results show that the effect of wind veering on the mean aerodynamic characteristics does not change monotonously with the wind twist angle, and the mean aerodynamic characteristics of models with different heights can be equivalent to wind twist angles at the top of building. When the wind twist angle is smaller than 6.2°, the wind veering effect can be ignored. The objective of this study is to explore the wind loads characteristics of super high-rise buildings with different heights under TWFs, furthermore, to provide useful information for further investigation and future wind-resistant design of skyscrapers.

Properties study of artificial aggregate with high-content recycled concrete powder

With the need for urban development, there is a trend towards constructing large-span and super high-rise buildings. People have placed higher performance requirements on building materials. Therefore, the development of high-strength materials has become one of the current research focuses. Recycled concrete powder (RCP) is the residual powder generated while crushing waste concrete into a recycled aggregate. In order to achieve the low energy consumption resource utilization of RCP solid waste, a large amount of RCP with slag (a by-product of the blast furnace ironmaking process) addition was activated under an alkaline environment to prepare a cementitious material. The effects of RCP/Slag, liquid-solid ratio, Na2O content, and Na2SiO3 modulus on the setting time, compressive strength, and microstructure of alkali-activated high-content RCP-slag cementitious materials (AARCPS) were determined. The results showed that AARCPS had good compressive strength and microstructure; as the RCP content increased, the setting time of the cementitious material gradually prolonged. Based on the research of AARCPS, the mixing ratio was improved, and alkali-activated high-content RCP-slag aggregates (AARCPSA) were prepared. The results showed that with the increase in RCP content, the material fast setting speed and the sticky surface of material balls phenomenon during the aggregate preparation process was improved, and increasing the RCP content from 0% to 50% increased the ball-forming rate by about 14.36%. AARCPSA has good early strength performance, with the compressive strength at 3d reaching 75.18%–90.15% of that at 28d and the compressive strength at 7d reaching 93.85%–99.51% at 28d. The maximum compressive strength at 28d was 8.2 MPa. Increasing the slag and Na2O content in AARCPSA increased aggregate strength and density and decreased water absorption. The increase in RCP content and the decrease in Na2O content increased the peak strain of single particle compression of the aggregate and improved the deformation performance of the aggregate.

Seismic responses of super high-rise buildings under long-period ground motions

Super high-rise buildings usually exhibit low fundamental frequencies and are particularly susceptible to Long Period Ground Motions (LPGMs) characterized by rich components in long-period range. Previous seismic analyses of super high-rise buildings have primarily considered ordinary earthquake actions, overlooking the influence of LPGMs. To address this gap, the seismic responses of super high-rise buildings ranging in height from 400 m to 800 m are investigated when subjected to LPGMs. The effectiveness of earthquake intensity measures, which serve as indices connecting seismic hazards to structural responses, is evaluated in capturing the seismic effects caused by LPGM excitations. Firstly, this study introduces a statistical model for the response spectra of LPGMs. A simulation algorithm utilizing Continuous Wavelet Transformation (CWT) is then employed to generate LPGMs. Subsequently, simplified shear-flexural models are applied to serve as computational models for super high-rise buildings with varying heights. Furthermore, this study calculates, analyzes and compares typical seismic responses, such as lateral displacements and inter-story drifts, of these super high-rise buildings under simulated LPGMs and ordinary earthquake excitations. Additionally, a set of seismological ground motions is utilized to validate the seismic response analysis. The findings of this study reveal that LPGMs lead to significantly larger responses of super high-rise buildings exceeding 400 m in height compared to ordinary earthquakes. Furthermore, this study examines the correlation coefficients between various existing earthquake intensity measures and seismic responses under LPGM excitations. The results indicate a strong relationship between the LPGM induced responses and the spectral acceleration and velocity at the fundamental periods of the structures. The aim of this paper is to explore the seismic response of super high-rise buildings under LPGMs and provide a scientific basis for their seismic analysis and design.

Axial behavior of square steel-tubed ultra-high-strength reinforced concrete columns

Steel-tubed reinforced concrete (STRC) columns with ultra-high-strength concrete (UHSC; compressive strength greater than 120 MPa) are currently used in some super high-rise buildings in Japan and other Asian countries. To properly evaluate the seismic performance of steel-tubed reinforced ultra-high-strength concrete (STR-UHSC) columns, it is necessary to understand their behavior under axial compression. However, there are few studies on the axial behavior of square STRC columns, particularly with UHSC. Therefore, axial compression tests were conducted on four square STR-UHSC columns with the test variables being the amount of transverse reinforcement and the presence of the steel tube. The concrete compressive strength used was over 170 MPa. The test result showed that the presence of the steel tube and the amount of the transverse reinforcement had no significant effect on the load-bearing capacity but greatly improved the post-peak behavior. To discuss the influence of the size effect and confining effect on the concrete compressive strength, a database of 56 plain and reinforced concrete columns with UHSC, including four specimens of this study was constructed. A new formula was proposed to evaluate the concrete compressive strength under the size effect and confining effect based on the regression analysis of the database. The proposed formula well simulated the measured peak load with a proper amount of contributions from concrete and longitudinal reinforcement. Finally, axial load-axial strain relationships were simulated using the proposed concrete stress–strain relationship. The axial behavior of each specimen was well simulated by considering the size effect and confining effect of the steel tube as well as the transverse reinforcement on the ultimate strain.

Research on Dynamic Deformation Laws of Super High-Rise Buildings and Visualization Based on GB-RAR and LiDAR Technology

It is well-known that structures composed of super high-rise buildings accumulate damages gradually due to ultra-long loads, material aging, and component defects. Thus, the bearing capacity of the structures can be significantly decreased. In addition, these effects may cause inestimable life and property losses upon strong winds, earthquakes, and other heavy loads. Hence, it is necessary to develop real-time health monitoring methods for super high-rise buildings to deeply understand the running state during operation, timely discover potential safety potentials, and to provide reference data for reinforcement design. Along these lines, in this work, the built super high-rise buildings (Yunding Building) and super high-rise buildings (the Main Tower of the Shandong International Financial Center), under construction, were selected as the research objects. The overall dynamic deformation laws of super high-rise buildings were monitored by using ground-based real aperture radar (GB-RAR) technology for its advantages in non-contact measurement, remote monitoring, and real-time display of observation results. Denoising of the observation data was also carried out based on wavelet analysis. The visualization of the space state of the Yunding Building was realized based on handheld LiDAR technology. From the acquired results, it was demonstrated that the measuring accuracy of GB-RAR could reach the submillimeter level, while the noises under a natural state of wavelet analysis were eliminated well. The maximum deformation values of the Yunding Building and the Main Tower of Shandong International Financial Center under their natural state were 9.63 mm and 16.46 mm, respectively. Under sudden wind loads, the maximum deformation of the Yunding Building could be as high as 895.79 mm. The overall motion state switched between an S-shaped pattern, hyperbolic-type, and oblique line, presented the characteristics of nonlinear elastic deformation.

Study on Installation of the Vertical Axis Wind Turbines on the Upper Floors of High-Rise Buildings

Introduction. Nowadays the sector of high-rise and super high-rise buildings construction is rapidly developing. The deficiency of non-renewable energy sources and the deterioration of the environment are two major problems faced by every country. Therefore, the wind power engineering is intensely developing and is able not only to stop the rapid deterioration of environmental situation but also to improve accessibility of energy supply and considerably reduce the deficit of energy. It is rational to use the wind power to source the clean renewable energy for the high-rise buildings by installing the vertical axis wind turbines on the upper floors of the buildings. The aim of the work is to confirm that the vertical axis wind turbines are the best appropriate for installation on the upper floors of high-rise buildings in the cities due to unique advantages thereof (simple design, easy maintenance, adaptability to complicated and changeable wind environment, long operation life), which ensure the supply of the cities with the safe and clean green energy.Materials and Methods. A small-size vertical axis wind turbine was taken for the study. The operation efficiency of various wind turbines was measured by changing the wind strength and direction under the same environmental conditions to determine whether a vertical axis wind turbine could operate safely, sustainably and efficiently in the complicated and changing wind environment of the city. Alongside it was proved that for ensuring the supply of the cities with the safe and clean energy the installation of the vertical axis wind turbines on the upper floors of high-rise buildings is more appropriate compared to the installation of horizontal ones.Results. By changing the wind strength and direction, it was found that the vertical axis wind turbines have good and stable operation efficiency and can provide a constant source of clean energy for urban development in a safer and more stable way.Discussion and Conclusions. The vertical axis wind turbines are ideally adapted to the complicated and changing wind conditions of the upper floors of high-rise buildings and can be safely and efficiently operated, making positive contribution to reducing the energy load and improving the state of environment.

Field Measurement Study on Dynamic Characteristics of the Shanghai World Financial Center

It is of great practical importance to study the vibration response characteristics of super high-rise buildings under an earthquake action to provide a basis for seismic design and later maintenance of structures in coastal areas. During this study, the Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC)’s health monitoring system was utilized to monitor earthquakes of magnitude 6.4 in Taiwan, 6.0 in Japan, 7.2 in the East China Sea, and 4.4 in Jiangsu, in real-time. Through the improved Envelope Random Decrement Technique (E-RDT), the dynamic properties of super high-rise buildings were examined under different earthquake effects in terms of the acceleration power spectrum, natural frequency, damping ratio, and mode shape. The results demonstrated that (1) the vibration responses of the structure in X (East–West) and Y (North–South) directions under four earthquakes were consistent, and with increasing floor height, the discreteness of the amplitude and acceleration signals of vibration responses increased. (2) The first two natural frequencies of the structure in X and Y directions decreased with the increase in amplitude, but the damping ratio increased with the increase in amplitude. The minimum values of the first two natural frequencies are 0.1498 Hz and 0.4312 Hz, respectively, and the maximum values of the first two damping ratios are 0.0086 and 0.0068, respectively. (3) Under different earthquake excitations, the SWFC’s mode shape’s estimates were similar, and their change trends in the X and Y directions were nonlinear as the number of floors increased. The structure was not seriously damaged by the four earthquakes. This study can provide helpful information for the seismic design of super high-rise buildings based on its findings.