Investigation of damping in high-rise buildings

Abstract

Buildings must be designed to meet horizontal deformation and vibration requirements when loaded by a wind force. These requirements can be governing in the design of the load bearing structure of a high-rise building. The structure can be optimized by describing and analyzing its dynamic behaviour. Information on damping is required to accurately describe the structure’s response. Codes provide global information on damping parameters. Since buildings are being built higher and higher, the quest for more accurate information arises. In this study information on 11 Dutch buildings was studied and damping parameters derived from measurements were related to the structural characteristics. Damping ratio expressions were derived. An analytical model of the structure’s dynamic response was developed. Damping was split in four sources to identify the contribution from individual structural aspects. The model was also used to advise on improving the monitoring of buildings in practice.