• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.641-659
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• 2013

In this paper is studied the influence of the uncertain mass distribution over the floors on the choice of the optimal parameters of a hybrid control system for tall buildings subjected to wind load. In particular, an optimization procedure is developed for the robust design of a hybrid control system that is based on an enhanced Monte Carlo simulation technique and the genetic algorithm. The large computational effort inherent in the use of a MC-based procedure is reduced by the employment of the Latin Hypercube Sampling. With reference to a tall building modeled as a multi degrees of freedom system, several numerical analyses are carried out varying the parameters influencing the floors' masses, like the coefficient of variation of the distribution and the correlation between the floors' masses. The procedure allows to obtain optimal designs of the control system that are robust with respect to the uncertainties on the distribution of the dead and live loads.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.163-178
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• 2005

Wind-induced mean and dynamic interference effects of tall buildings are studied in detail by a series of wind tunnel tests in this paper. Interference excitations of several types of upwind structures of different sizes in different upwind terrains are considered. Comprehensive interference characteristics are investigated by artificial neural networks and correlation analysis. Mechanism of the wakes vortex-induced resonance is discussed, too. Measured results show significant correlations exist in the distributions of the interference factors of different configurations and upwind terrains and, therefore, a series of relevant regression equations are proposed to simplify the complexity of the multi-parameter wind induced interference effects between two tall buildings.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.293-304
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• 2016

The diagrid structural system for constructing tall buildings is a recent invention. Debuting in 2004 with the construction of the Swiss Re Tower in London, this aesthetically driven structural system has centered the perfecting of its technology on the development of the nodes that form its innovative deviation from standard steel tall framing methods. The paper examines variations in node design, understanding the linked dependence the modularity and the choice to expose the steel in the building, as well as on advances in digital modelling that allow an increasingly seamless line of communication from the engineering design through to the actual fabrication of the nodes. This advanced design and fabrication technology will be seen to have resulted in the expanded use of the technical term "node" to inform the design and construction of a range of other applications in the structuring of tall buildings, including the use of steel castings.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 1999

In this paper, a new algorithm for active control design of structures is proposed and investigated. The algorithm preserves the decoupling property of the modal vibration equation and eliminates the spillover problem, which is the main shortcoming in the independent modal space control(IMSC) algorithm. With linear quadratic regulator(LQR) control law, the analytical solution of algebraic Riccati equation and the optimal actuator control force are obtained, and the control design procedure is significantly simplified. A numerical example for the control design of a tall building subjected to wind loads demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in reducing the acceleration and displacement responses of tall buildings under wind actions.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.265-273
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• 2019

The purpose of this review paper is to briefly describe main the features of novel procedures developed by the National of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the design of tall buildings. Topics considered in the paper include: the division of tasks between wind and structural engineers; the determination of wind effects with specified mean recurrence intervals by accounting for wind directionality; the risk-consistent design of structures subjected to multiple wind hazards; iterative dynamic analyses and member sizing, including the use of modern optimization approaches; and commonalities of and differences between Database-assisted Design (DAD) and Equivalent Static Wind Loads procedures. An example of the application of the DAD procedure is presented for a reinforced concrete structure. Also included in the paper is an introduction to ongoing research on the estimation of wind load factors or of augmented design mean recurrence intervals commensurate with the uncertainties in the factors that determine the wind effects.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.69-83
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• 1999

The most common used control device on tall buildings and high-rise structures is active and passive tuned mass damper (ATMD and TMD). The major advantages of ATMD and TMD are discussed. The existing installations of various passive/active control devices on real structures are listed. A set of parameter optimization methods is proposed to determine optimal parameters of passive tuned mass dampers under wind excitation. Simplified formulas for determining the optimal parameters are proposed so that the design of a TMD can be carried out easily. Optimal design of wind-induced vibration control of frame structures is investigated. A thirty-story tall building is used as an example to demonstrate the procedure and to verify the efficiency of ATMD and TMD with the optimal parameters.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2013

Tall building has some controversial aspects with low carbon city, but it is still a sensible choice for the metropolitan city. This paper aims to develop holistic urban design strategies to minimize impacts on the environment, increase energy efficiency and improve the quality of living in tall building communities by utilizing tall building characteristics. It puts forward the concept of integrated tall building-low carbon community design from the perspective of urban design, and summarizes five core strategies: Temporal state based on energy use, Complementary energy use state based on functions, Spatial state based on regional environment features, Transportation state based on low-carbon lifestyle and Waste utilization state based on tall building characteristics. It also applies the strategies to a practical project. The results show that the proposed urban design strategies are available approaches to mitigate the side effects of tall building on low carbon city.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2014

The tall building and super tall building has been a common building type in China, with multiple functions and complex geometry. Composite construction is broadly used in tall building structures and constitutes the mixed structure together with concrete and steel constructions. The mixture of the constructions is purposely designed for specific area based on the analysis results to achieve the best cost-effectiveness. New types of composite construction are conceived of by engineers for columns and walls. Material distribution is more flexible and innovative in the structural level and member level. However the reliability of computer model analysis should be verified carefully. Further researches in the design and build of composite construction are necessary to ensure the success of its application. Composite or Mixture Index is suggested to be used as a performance benchmark.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.347-362
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• 2022

Current vibration serviceability assessment criteria for wind-induced vibrations in tall buildings are based largely on human 'perception' thresholds which are shown not to be directly translatable to human 'acceptability' of vibrations. There is also a considerable debate about both the metrics and criteria for vibration acceptability, such as frequency of occurrence or peak vs mean vibration, and how these might vary with the nature of the vibration. Furthermore, the design criteria are necessarily simplified for ease of application so cannot account for a range of environmental, situational and human factors that may enhance or diminish the impact of vibrations on serviceability. The dual-site VSimulators facility was created specifically to provide an experimental platform to address gaps in understanding of human response to building vibration. This paper considers how VSimulators can be used to inform general design guidance and support design of specific buildings for habitability, in terms of vibration, which allow engineers and clients to make informed decisions with regard to sustainable design, in terms of energy and financial cost. This paper first provides a brief overview of current vibration serviceability assessment guidelines, and the current understanding and limitations of occupants' acceptability of wind-induced motion in tall buildings. It then describes how the dual-site VSimulators facility at the Universities of Bath and Exeter can be used to assess the effects of motion and environment on human comfort, wellbeing and productivity with examples of how the facility capabilities have been used to provide new, human experience based experimental research approaches.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.83-90
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• 2013

A series of wind tunnel tests were conducted on 7 super-tall buildings with various polygon cross-sections, including triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, dodecagon, and circular. The primary purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of increasing number of sides on aerodynamic characteristics for super-tall buildings. Wind tunnel tests were conducted under the turbulent boundary layers whose power-law exponent is 0.27. Fluctuating wind pressures from more than 200 pressure taps were recorded simultaneously, and time series of overturning moments were calculated considering tributary area of each pressure tap. The results show that the overturning moment coefficients and the spectral values decrease with increasing number of sides, and the largest mean and fluctuating overturning moments were found for the triangular super-tall building, and the largest spectral values were found for the square super-tall building. The analysis should be conducted more in detail, but currently it can be roughly said that there seems to be a little differences in the aerodynamic characteristics for the super-tall buildings whose number of sides is larger than 5 or 6.