High-Rise, Exploring the ultimate limits

High-Rise, Exploring the ultimate limits

Dijkstra, A.J.

Vambersky, J.N.J.A. (mentor)
Terwel, K.C. (mentor)
Luscuere, P.C. (mentor)
Kaan, C.H.C.F. (mentor)
Middelkoop, F.H. (mentor)

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Design and Construction

2008-09-05

In 1885 the race for the skies was initiated with the construction of the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, world’s first true skyscraper. Since the turn of the 1990’s, Asian countries have started to get involved as well in the race for the skies and have even become the leading contestants of today. Driven by their fast economic growth these contestants want to promote their country and its cities by constructing ever taller skyscrapers. An example of this is the Burj Dubai. With a height well over 800 metres, it will become world’s tallest skyscraper. But, how long can this race for the skies continue? Will we eventually encounter insuperable difficulties which will bring the race to a close? This brings us to the goal of this thesis: "To gain a good insight into the challenges which will be encountered when designing and constructing an ultra-tall skyscraper, with the aim to find the ultimate limit to the height of the skyscraper." The thesis’ goal consists of two parts; in the first part of the thesis a clear understanding of the subject is obtained by carefully examining the encountered challenges. In the second part, this knowledge is used to explore the limits to high-rise. A list of 14 challenges is examined. These challenges vary from structural and serviceability challenges to safety and economical challenges. From this list, six challenges are selected which are examined more carefully: the building’s foundation, the skyscraper’s load-bearing structure, the comfort criterion, the vertical transportation of people, goods and building services, evacuating the building’s occupants and the economical feasibility of the skyscraper. First, the limits to each of these challenges are determined by taking into account the Dutch building codes. Secondly, it is examined which measures can be taken to further stretch these limits. These possible measures can be depicted in a web diagram. From this diagram can be noted that one single measure can simultaneously stretch the limit of several challenges. From the diagram follows as well that changing the shape of the skyscraper is one of the most promising measures to stretch the height of the building. Three different options for changing the shape of the skyscraper are examined in the thesis: change the footprint of the building, give the building a tapering shape or create a compound structure, which means that multiple slender towers are interconnected to form one structural entity. After examining these three options it can be concluded that compound structures are the most promising solution if we want to build ultra-tall skyscrapers in the near future. Compound structures perform well all along the line. In the thesis all of the building’s boundary conditions are determined on beforehand. Based on these assumptions the skyscraper’s limits are established. As a result of this, no absolute limit to high-rise can be found. This master’s thesis can be a starting point for future master’s theses. When one wants to further explore the limits to high-rise, it is advised to apply a different approach. The height of the skyscraper should be predetermined. Based on this target one can deduce which structure is needed to achieve this height and which concessions have to be made with regard to the building’s serviceability and safety.

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Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2008 Dijkstra, A.J.