SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering (SSRG-IJCE) – volume1 issue4 September 2014

Structural Forms Systems for Tall Building

Structures
Er. Nishant Rana1, SiddhantRana2
1
M.Tech. Structural Engineering Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering
RadhaGovind Engineering College, Garh Road Anuyogipuram, Meerut (U.P.)-250004, India
2
B.Tech. (Civil Engineering) Student, Department of Civil Engineering
Amity School of Engineering & Technology, Amity University, Sector-125 Noida (U.P.)-201313, India

ABSTRACT: The term structural form systems in exist in common buildings of certain region and
structural engineering refers to lateral load- period[1]. The tallness of a building is a matter of a
resisting system of a structure. The structural forms person‟s or community‟s perception therefore, a
employed in the high-rise structures transfers loads particular definition of a tall building cannot be
through structural components which are universally applied.Tall building structures frame
connected with each other in an efficient manner. requires special structural arrangements, if they are
The commonly used structural forms can be subjected to appreciable lateral loads such as high
classified into different categories, depending on wind pressuresand earthquake loadings. In modern
the type of stresses that may arise in the structural era, tall buildings structures are in great demands
members due to the application of loads. because of the following reasons which are as
Sometimes two or more of the basic structural follows :
forms may be combined in a single structural form
systemto form a hybrid system in order to meet the  Scarceness of land in urban areas
structures operational requirements.  Greater demand for business and residential
space
The structural system of a tall building is designed  Economicalemergence
to deal with vertical gravity loads and mainly the  Technical advancements
lateral loads caused by wind and seismic activity.  Innovations in Structural Systems
The structural system consists of only the members  Desire for aesthetics in urban areas
designed to carry the loads, all other members  Cultural significance and prestige
which does not participate in carrying loads are  Human ambitions to build higher
referred as non-structural members.
Tall buildings are subjected to various types of
From the point of view of structural engineer, the loads during its service life time. It must be so
determination of the structural systemfor a tall designed to resist the gravitational and lateral
building structures would ideally involve the forces, both permanent and transitory, that will be
selection and arrangement of the major structural called on to sustain during its construction and
elements to resist most efficiently the various subsequent service life. Major loads of which a tall
combinations of gravity and lateral loading. A building structures are subjected to are given below
major consideration affecting the structural system :
is the intended function of thebuilding which a
building is going to serve.The paper reviews some  Gravity loads
of themajor types of structural form systems – Dead loads
employed for modern tall buildings structures. – Live loads
 Lateral loads
Keywords-Introduction, Braced-Frame – Wind loads
Structures, Framed Tube Structures, Outrigger- – Seismic loads
Braced Structure, Shear Wall Structures.  Special loads
– Impact loads
1. Introduction – Blasts loads

A „tall building‟ or „high-rise building‟ is a Below figure (Fig.1) shows the different
building whose height creates different conditions structural forms systems which are adopted in tall
in the design, construction and use than those that building structures of different height.

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 SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering (SSRG-IJCE) – volume1 issue4 September 2014

distance to the neutral axis to resist bending

moment. The solution was to create a system in
which the exterior frames encircling the structure
would be rigid enough to behave as nearly as
possible like a three-dimensional vertical
cantilever.

The “Framed Tube” structural system in tall

building structures has been widely used in
resisting a wide range of lateral loads. It usually
consists of closely spaced wide exterior columns
connected at each floor level with relatively deep
spandrel beams through moment connections[1].
Figure 1 Different structural form for different This tubular concept is generally economically
heights of structure attractive,possesses torsional rigidity, and also
provide greater flexibility in space planning since
most framed columns are located at the perimeter
2. Braced-Frame Structural System
of the building.A well known example of framed
tube structural system is World Trade Centerwhich
This system is used in steel construction, it is both
is 110 story high structure.
an efficient and economical way for improving the
lateral stiffness and resistance of rigid frame
system. The bracing will almost eliminate the
bending of columns and beams by resisting lateral
loads primarily through axial stress, thus allowing
for slenderer elements. In braced frames the lateral
resistance of the structure is provided by diagonal
members that together with the girders, form the
“web” of the vertical truss, with the columns acting
as the “chords”[2]. A very well known example of
braced frame structural system can be seen in the
Empire State Building. (a) (b) (c)
Figure 3 (a) Frame Tube (b) Braced-Frame Tube
(c) Tube-in-Tube
4. Outrigger-Braced Structural System

Outrigger are rigid horizontal structures designed

to improve building overturning stiffness and
strength by connecting the core or spine to distant
columns[3].Outrigger systems functions by tying
together two structural systems- typically a core
system and a perimeter system to yield whole
Figure 2(a) Double diagonal (b) Single diagonal structural behaviors that are much better than
(c) Chevron (d) Storey height knee those of componenet system.

The benefits of an outrigger system lies in the fact

3. Framed Tube Structural System
that building deformations resulting from the
overturning moments get reduced, on the other
The „tube‟ system evolved from a quest to develop
hand greater efficiency is achieved in resisting
a bracing configuration that would place as much
forces. Outrigger engages the perimeter columns
gravity load on the exterior columns as possible to
in lateral load resisting action which would
help counter the overturning effects of lateral loads
otherwise acts as a gravity load resisting
while taking advantage of exterior column‟s large
elements.

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 SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering (SSRG-IJCE) – volume1 issue4 September 2014

earthquake loads downwards to the foundation..

Outrigger system performance is affected by Such a wall acts as a beam cantilevered out of the
outrigger locations through the height of the foundation and just as with a beam, part of its
building, the number of levels of outrigger strength derives from its depth.
provided, their plan locations, outrigger truss
depths and the primary structural materials Although not as efficient from a strictly structural
used[3]. point of view, interior shear walls do leave the
exterior of the building open for windows which is
Outrigger systems may be formed of any a more realistic situation because both wind and
combination of steel, concrete and composite earthquake forces need to be resisted in both
constructions. This structural form system also directions. Shear walls need not to be symmetrical
helps in reduction and possibly the elimination of in plan, but symmetry is preferred in order to avoid
uplift and net tension forces throughout the torsional effects.
columns and foundations.

Figure 4 Outrigger Braced System Figure 5Shear Walls(shown in green panels ) along
the outer perimeter of building
5. Shear Wall Structural System
6. Conclusion
Concrete or masonry continuous vertical walls may
serve both architecturally as partitions and Having presented briefly some of the major
structurally to carry gravity and lateral loading. structural forms systems employed in tall building
Their very high in plane stiffnessand strength structures, a fair conclusion can be drawn on
makes them ideally suited for bracing tall building theirimportance in the performance of tall building
structures[2]. Because of their stiffness, shear wall structures. Since, tall buildings enjoys rapid
structural system can be economical upto 35 stories evolution and new innovations and with the
building structure. development of increasingly taller buildings
It is especially important in shear wall system to try structures serviceability issues like lateral sway,
to plan the wall layout so that the lateral load floor vibration, and occupant comfort need to be
tensile stresses are suppressed by the gravity load given more attention.As the height of the building
stresses[2]. increases, lateral forces plays a dominant role.
Therefore, certain provisions shall be made in order
Shear walls are usually provided along both length to resist these lateral forces so that building
and width of buildings. Shear walls are like performance under the effect of lateral loadscan be
vertically-oriented wide beams that carry improved.

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 SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering (SSRG-IJCE) – volume1 issue4 September 2014

References
[1] Keynote Lecture CIB 2004 World Building Congress
Toronto, Ontario Canada.
[2]Bryan Stafford Smith and Alex Coull, Tall Building
Structures-Analysis and Design, John Wiley & Sons, 2006.
[3]Outrigger Design for High-Rise Buildings, An output of
CTBUH

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