The Impact of End Shear Walls on the Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Tall Buildings with Helipad for Personal Transportation

Abstract

Nowadays, the helipad is considered on the roofs of tall buildings to accommodate air taxi services or evacuation in case of a major fire outbreak. On the other hand, lateral load systems play an essential role in tall buildings. In tall buildings, the reinforced concrete end shear walls connect the ends of two reinforced concrete shear walls in all stories to reduce tensions in the end wings. Accordingly, this research compared two 30-story models of reinforced concrete buildings with helipads on top with and without end shear walls. Helipads in two tall buildings should consider both the essential area for touchdown and liftoff and the area where a helicopter begins to move into forward flight during takeoff final approach and takeoff or hovers or lands (approach maneuver). The mentioned tall buildings were subjected to helipad load. Based on the results, the first period and maximum drift story declined by 52% and 47% in 30-story by end shear walls, respectively. In addition, statistical analysis was used for further investigation. The related results showed that skewness and kurtosis coefficients were reduced by 18% and 70% in the 30-story building with an end shear wall and a helipad. The consequences presented suitable performance end shear walls in the tall reinforced concrete building with end shear walls and helipads for personal transportation.