Challenges of designing tall structures

[Chandan321]

Guys, inspired by my last thread about designing a tall steel stairway tower, I thought of starting a new thread.

As wind loads on tall structures become very critical, what aspects do engineers look into when they design tall skyscrapers/towers etc. (the commercial ones that we see around) I have the following observations:

---- I am sure they rest the column bottoms on a mat foundation.

---- Are there any special aspects of designing the bolts and base plates, if any.

---- How do they manage to keep the drifts at upper stories under allowable limits.

 

[dougantholz]

Chandan - a book recommendation: "Engineering Architecture: The Vision of Fazlur R. Khan" a biography of the original tall building engineer. Enough engineering nerd-it-dum to keep me intrigued.

 

[Chandan321]

wow, that seems to be an exciting book. Does it have engineering calculations for design of such structures.

 

[dougantholz]

No, its a biography not a how too book but it talks about many of the challenges in design and construction of the Hancock Building, Sears Tower, Shell Building (Houston) and a few others. I thought it an interesting read.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Many foundations go to bedrock.

I sure wouldn't try one without the help of an old seasoned engineer known for doing this type of work.

 

[csd72]

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en...&oi=book_result&resnum=15&ct=result#PPA364,M1

 

[Chandan321]

dougantholz, i would definitely love to read it sometime.

MiketheEngineer, surely i also would not lay my hands on it, but it is a topic I always think about.

csd72, thanks for the link. seems to be a very helpful book.

 

[COEngineeer]

A lot of shear walls preferabbly that have center of gravity close to center of the building or center of rigidity (if rigid diaphragm).

Or common walls from each floor to hide the lateral element.

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[csd72]

Heres a better aritcle:

Look at

http://www.ejse.org/

Then look up archives, vol 1 2001.

"Evolution of Concrete Skyscrapers: From Ingalls to Jin Mao"

 

[GalileoG]

"Tall Building Structures Analysis and Design" is a great book on the topic too.

 

[csd72]

One more free article

http://www.openj-gate.org/include/redirect.asp?JCode=120837&Source=1&type=J&url=http://

http://www.civenv.unimelb.edu.au/ejse/Archives/Fulltext/2007/Special/200704.pdf

 

[msquared48]

Minimizing the story to story height to increase the useable space (ie, more floors) within the height allowed by the local zoning.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering