Impact of structural solutions on the design of high-rise RC structures in long corner period seismic areas

Abstract

One of the central struggles of engineers is to create sustainable buildings and enhance the usable area for often limited construction site dimensions. One possible and often considered solution is the design of high-rise structures. When placed in seismic areas the seismic response of high-rise structures may become difficult to control. The current study investigates the structural performance of several structural solutions for a 30 stories structure to be built for high ductility class in a seismic area with corner period of 1.8s. The main issue to be solved refers to provide enough stiffness to reduce excessive lateral displacement of structural elements and limit damage of nonstructural elements. Following structural solutions were investigated and compared: (i) central core with perimeter frames and different distributions of rigid stories; (ii) central core with perimeter frames and interior walls and (iii) central core with perimeter frames and dampers. The comparison was made in terms of lateral drift, base shear force, overturning moment and lateral stiffness variations. It turned out that the design of a regular, almost symmetric high-rise structure may face a large range of uncertainties to come up with a functional structural concept. The safety level promoted by seismic design codes rises with each code generation and structural requirements enhance. Future design of high-rise structures in long corner period seismic areas will most probably become impossible without the help of anti-seismic devices.