A Stroke-Limitation AMD Control System with Variable Gain and Limited Area for High-Rise Buildings

Collisions between a moving mass and an anti-collision device increase structural responses and threaten structural safety.An active mass damper(AMD)with stroke limitations is often used to avoid collisions.However,a strokelimited AMD control system with a fixed limited area shortens the available AMD stroke and leads to significant control power.To solve this problem,the design approach with variable gain and limited area(VGLA)is proposed in this study.First,the boundary of variable-limited areas is calculated based on the real-time status of the moving mass.The variable gain(VG)expression at the variable limited area is deduced by considering the saturation of AMD stroke.Then,numerical simulations of a stroke-limited AMD control system with VGLA are conducted on a high-rise building structure.These numerical simulations show that the proposed approach has superior strokelimitation performance compared with a stroke-limited AMD control system with a fixed limited area.Finally,the proposed approach is validated through experiments on a four-story steel frame.

A novel control strategy for reproducing the floor motions of high-rise buildings by earthquake-simulating shake tables

To enable the experimental assessment of the seismic performance of full-scale nonstructural elements with multiple engineering parameters(EDPs),a three-layer testbed named Nonstructural Element Simulator on Shake Table(NEST)has been developed.The testbed consists of three consecutive floors of steel structure.The bottom two floors provide a space to accommodate a full-scale room.To fully explore the flexibility of NEST,we propose a novel control strategy to generate the required shake table input time histories for the testbed to track the target floor motions of the buildings of interest with high accuracy.The control strategy contains two parts:an inverse dynamic compensation via simulation of feedback control systems(IDCS)algorithm and an offline iteration procedure based on a refined nonlinear numerical model of the testbed.The key aspects of the control strategy were introduced in this paper.Experimental tests were conducted to simulate the seismic responses of a full-scale office room on the 21^(st)floor of a 42-story high-rise building.The test results show that the proposed control strategy can reproduce the target floor motions of the building of interest with less than 20%errors within the specified frequency range.

Seismic loss assessment of RC high-rise buildings designed according to Eurocode 8

A probabilistic seismic loss assessment of RC high-rise(RCHR)buildings designed according to Eurocode 8 and located in the Southern Euro-Mediterranean zone is presented herein.The loss assessment methodology is based on a comprehensive simulation approach which takes into account ground motion(GM)uncertainty,and the random effects in seismic demand,as well as in predicting the damage states(DSs).The methodology is implemented on three RCHR buildings of 20-story,30-story and 40-story with a core wall structural system.The loss functions described by a cumulative lognormal probability distribution are obtained for two intensity levels for a large set of simulations(NLTHAs)based on 60 GM records with a wide range of magnitude(M),distance to source(R)and different site soil conditions(SS).The losses expressed in percent of building replacement cost for RCHR buildings are obtained.In the estimation of losses,both structural(S)and nonstructural(NS)damage for four DSs are considered.The effect of different GM characteristics(M,R and SS)on the obtained losses are investigated.Finally,the estimated performance of the RCHR buildings are checked to ensure that they fulfill limit state requirements according to Eurocode 8.

Editorial: Special subject on the mechanical behavior of fire dynamics in high-rise buildings

With rapid economic and social development in China, high-rise buildings have continuously sprung up since 2006. However, several big fire accidents in high-rise buildings such as the Beijing Television Cultural Center fire in 2009 and the Shanghai Jing＇an District fire in 2010 etc. have claimed people＇s lives and caused huge amounts of economic and property losses,

Quantitative investigation on collapse margin of steel high-rise buildings subjected to extremely severe earthquakes

Reponses of structures subjected to severe earthquakes sometimes significantly surpass what was considered in the design.It is important to investigate the failure mechanism and collapse margin of structures beyond design,especially for high-rise buildings.In this study,steel high-rise buildings using either square concrete-filled-tube（CFT） columns or steel tube columns are designed.A detailed three-dimensional（3 D） structural model is developed to analyze the seismic behavior of a steel high-rise towards a complete collapse.The effectiveness is verified by both component tests and a full-scale shaking table test.The collapse margin,which is defined as the ratio of PGA between the collapse level to the design major earthquake level（Level 2）,is quantified by a series of numerical simulations using incremental dynamic analyses（IDA）.The baseline building using CFT columns collapsed with a weak first story mechanism and presented a collapse margin ranging from 10 to 20.The significant variation in the collapse margin was caused by the different characteristics of the input ground motions.The building using equivalent steel columns collapsed earlier due to the significant shortening of the locally buckled columns,exhibiting only 57% of the collapse margin of the baseline building.The influence of reducing the height of the first story was quite significant.The shortened first story not only enlarged the collapse margin by 20%,but also changed the collapse mode.

Dynamic response characteristics of super high-rise buildings subjected to long-period ground motions

Spectrum characteristics of different types of seismic waves and dynamic response characteristics of super high-rise building structures under long-period ground motions were comparatively analyzed. First, the ground response wave （named LS-R wave） of a soft soil site with deep deposit, taking long-period bedrock seismic record as input, was calculated by wave propagation method. After that, a TOMAKOMAI station long-period seismic record from the Tokachi-Oki earthquake and conventional E1-Centro wave were also chosen. Spectrum characteristics of these waves were analyzed and compared. Then, a series of shaking table tests were performed on a 1：50 scale super high-rise structural model under these seismic waves. Furthermore, numerical simulation of the prototype structure under these excitations was conducted, and structure damages under different intensive ground motions were discussed. The results show that： 1） Spectrum characteristics of ground response wave are significantly influenced by soft soil site with deep deposit, and the predominant period has an increasing trend. 2） The maximum acceleration amplification factor of the structure under the TOM wave is two times that under the E1-Centro wave; while the maximum displacement response of the structure under the TOM wave is 4.4 times that under the E1-Centro wave. Long-period ground motions show greater influences on displacement responses than acceleration responses for super high-rise building structures. 3） Most inelastic damage occurs at the upper 1/3 part of the super high-rise building when subjected to long-period ground motions.

A review on research of fire dynamics in high-rise buildings

Since serious fire occurred frequently in recent years, fire safety of high-rise building has attracted extensive attention. A National Basic Research Program （973 program） of China has been set up by Ministry of Science and Technology （MOST） of China in 2012 to meet the research requirements of fire safety in high-rise buildings. This paper reviews the current state of art of research on fire dynamics of high-rise buildings, including the up-to-date progress of this project. The following three subjects on fire dynamics of high-rise buildings are addressed in this review： the ejected flame and fire plume behavior over facade out of the compartment window, the flame spread behavior over facade thermal insulation materiMs, and the buoyancy-driven smoke transportation characteristics along long vertical channels in high-rise buildings. Prospective future works are discussed and summarized.

Effects of high modes on the wind-induced response of super high-rise buildings

For super high-rise buildings, the vibration period of the basic mode is several seconds, and it is very close to the period of the fluctuating wind. The damping of super high-rise buildings is low, so super high-rise buildings are very sensitive to fluctuating wind. The wind load is one of the key loads in the design of super high-rise buildings. It is known that only the basic mode is needed in the wind-response analysis of tall buildings. However, for super high-rise buildings, especially for the acceleration response, because of the frequency amplification of the high modes, the high modes and the mode coupling may need to be considered. Three typical super high-rise projects with the SMPSS in wind tunnel tests and the random vibration theory method were used to analyze the effect of high modes on the wind-induced response. The conclusions can be drawn as follows. First, for the displacement response, the basic mode is dominant, and the high modes can be neglected. Second, for the acceleration response, the high modes and the mode coupling should be considered. Lastly, the strain energy of modes can only give the vibration energy distribution of the high-rise building, and it cannot describe the local wind-induced vibration of high-rise buildings, especially for the top acceleration response.

Seismic performance of high-rise buildings in selected regions in Saudi Arabia according to different seismic codes

The design code for each country is revised and updated based on an expected zone’s seismic intensities,geotechnical site classifications,structural systems,construction materials and methods of construction in order to provide more realistic considerations of seismic demand,seismic response,and seismic capacity.Based on the aforementioned provisions,structures designed according to different seismic codes may yield different performances for the same level of hazard.This study aims to investigate and compare the induced responses related to the earthquake-resistant design of reinforced concrete(RC)buildings according to the Saudi building code(SBC-301),American code(ASCE-7),uniform building code(UBC-97),and European code(EC-8).In order to account for the provision regarding the hazard specification and its effect on the induced seismic responses,four regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with different seismic levels are selected.The code provisions related to the specification of site classification and its effect on the induced design base shear are investigated as well.Significant differences are observed in the induced responses with the variation in seismic design codes for the considered seismic hazards and site classifications.

Numerical Simulation of Wind Field Characteristics around Two Adjacent High-Rise Buildings

This paper based on Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations standard ?model [1];the surface pressure on the wind field around two adjacent high-rise buildings was numerically simulated with software Fluent. The results show that with the influence of adjacent high-rise building, numerical simulation is a good way to study the wind field around high-rise building and the distribution of wind pressure on building’ surface. The pressures on the windward surface are positive with the maximum at 2/3 H height and have lower values on the top and bottom. The pressures on the leeward surface and two sides were negative. Due to the serious flow separation at the corner of building’s windward, the wind field has a high turbulent kinetic energy.

Analysis of the Performances of a New Type of Alumina Nanocomposite Structural Material Designed for the Thermal Insulation of High-Rise Buildings

The sol-gel method is used to prepare a new nano-alumina aerogel structure and the thermal properties of this nanomaterial are investigated comprehensively using electron microscope scanning,thermal analysis,X-ray and infrared spectrometer analysis methods.It is found that the composite aerogel alumina material has a multi-level porous nano-network structure.When employed for the thermal insulation of high-rise buildings,the alumina nanocomposite aerogel material can lead to effective energy savings in winter.However,it has almost no energy-saving effect on buildings where energy is consumed for cooling in summer.

Model Reduction Methods for High-Rise Buildings with Active Mass Damper Control Systems

To improve the performance of an active mass damper control system,the controller should be designed based on a reduced-order model. An improved method based on balanced truncation method was proposed to reduce the dimension of high-rise buildings,and was compared with other widely used reduction methods by using a framework with ten floors. This optimized method has improvement of reduction process and choice of the order. Based on the reduced-order model obtained by the improved method and pole-assignment algorithm,a controller was designed. Finally,a comparative analysis of structural responses,transfer functions,and poles was conducted on an actual high-rise building. The results show the effectiveness of the improved method.

Development of the Separate Air-Supply Type of Pressurization Smoke Control System for the Stairwells of High-Rise Buildings in Korea

The pressurization smoke control system has been commonly used as a smoke control system at the emergency stairs of high-rise buildings. However, a higher possibility of overpressure between the lobby and the accommodation or pressure drop in the lobby could lead to failure in achievement of the purpose of pressurization system, particularly when supplying the leakage and supplementary air flow through one air-supply path at a time. To improve this particular issue, the devise configurations, as well as the different ways to supply the leakage and supplementary air flow through the different flow passages have been proposed. The performance of the trial product was evaluated on the test bed, ultimately providing a safe evacuation environment if high-rise buildings fired.

Method for Evaluating the Influence of Obstruction of Sea Breeze by Clusters of High-Rise Buildings on the Urban Heat Island Effect

This study aims to propose a method for quantitatively evaluating the influence which the obstruction of sea breezes by clusters of high-rise buildings has on the urban heat island effect using a weather simulation model and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Specifically, a method of evaluating the influence of the obstruction of sea breeze by high-rise buildings on the urban heat island effect was proposed. In the method, two scenarios that imagine urban forms which differ with regard to whether or not they contain high-rise buildings are created and weather simulation is conducted, and the results of the simulations are comparatively analyzed focusing on temperature and wind speed. Evaluation was conducted in two stages, and Shiodome of Minato City in the Tokyo Metropolis was selected as the region for evaluation. In two stages of evaluation, a rise in temperature of approximately 0.3 K and a reduction in wind speed of approximately 1 m/s were observed in a region approximately five to ten kilometers square downwind of high-rise buildings in the period 6 PM to 9 PM, and a higher temperature caused by the obstruction of sea breeze by high-rise buildings was identified. The fact that such a higher temperature was confirmed in the time period from 6 PM onwards, in which the temperature decreases, reveals that obstruction of sea breeze by high-rise buildings dulls the decrease in temperature which occurs from evening onwards, and influences nighttime urban heat island formation.

Study on Steel Bar Construction Technology of Frameshear Wall in High-Rise Buildings

The development of the construction sector is rapidly growing,which induce competition at global level.In order to achieve the current economic development,more high-rise buildings construction projects were commenced without considering importance of the land to human and other living organism.On the other hand,the quality and safety aspect of the engineering technology used must be analyzed carefully and to be the primary aim for engineers to reduce any risk of harm in future.Many of the high-rise buildings in China consist of a frame or skeleton of reinforced concrete wall which need to be strengthened with shear walls to improve the stability and safety of the structures.According to practical work experience and relevant theoretical knowledge,the researcher introduced the reinforcement construction technology of frame-shear wall for high-rise buildings in depth from aspects like the arrangement of steel bar,construction preparation,steel bar anchorage,precautions to follow for the related work in future.

Discussion on the Construction of Anti-smoke Construction Technology in Super High-rise Buildings

In recent years with the increasing number of super high-rise buildings and the ever-expanding scale the anti-smoke construction technology has attracted more and more attention.Based on this situation,this paper analyzes the smoke control technology of super high-rise buildings.The paper analyzes the importance of the application of anti-smoke construction technology in super high-rise buildings,analyzes the problems in the construction of smoke control and super high-rise buildings.The anti-smoke construction technology was studied and I hope that it can benefit the application of anti-smoke construction technology in high-rise buildings.

Investigation Responses of the Diagrid Structural System of High-rise Buildings Equipped with Tuned Mass Damper Using New Dynamic Method

Due to the shortage of land in cities and population growth,the significance of high rise buildings has risen.Controlling lateral displacement of structures under different loading such as an earthquake is an important issue for designers.One of the best systems is the diagrid method which is built with diagonal elements with no columns for manufacturing tall buildings.In this study,the effect of the distribution of the tuned mass damper(TMD)on the structural responses of diagrid tall buildings was investigated using a new dynamic method.So,a diagrid structural systems with variable height with TMDs was solved as an example of structure.The reason for the selection of the diagrid system was the formation of a stiffness matrix for the diagonal and angular elements.Therefore,the effect of TMDs distribution on the story drift,base shear and structural behaviour were studied.The obtained outcomes showed that the TMDs distribution does not significantly affect on improving the behaviour of the diagrid structural system during an earthquake.Furthermore,the new dynamic scheme represented in this study has good performance for analyzing different systems.Abbreviation:TMD-tuned mass damper;SATMD-semiactive-tuned mass dampers;MDOF-multiple degrees of freedom;m_(i)-mass of ith story of the building;c_(i)-damping coefficient of the ith story of the building;k_(i)-stiffness of ith story of the building;x_(i)-displacement of the ith story of the building;md-mass of damper;c_(d)-damping coefficient of the damper;k_(d)-stiffness of damper;x_(d)-displacement of TMD;M_(i)-generalized mass of the ith normal mode;C_(i)-generalized damping of the ith normal mode;K_(i)-generalized stiffness of the ith normal mode;K_(i)(t)-generalized load of the ith normal mode;Y_(i)(t)-generalized displacement of the ith normal mode;[M]-matrices of mass;[C]-matrices of damping;{P(t)}-consequence external forces;N_(i)(τ)-interpolation functions;[Ai]-mechanical properties of the structure.

THE EFFECTS OF BALCONIES ON THE NATURAL VENTILATION PERFORMANCE OF CROSS-VENTILATED HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS

Natural ventilation performance can be influenced by various factors,including facade treatments such as balconies.Balconies have been commonly incorporated into residential buildings for various purposes,yet the provision of a balcony as a passive design strategy to improve natural ventilation is not one of its common purposes.The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of balcony design on the natural ventilation performance of cross-ventilated high-rise apartments.This study uses Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD)models to predict ventilation performance.CFD models are selected because of their accuracy,flexibility and ability to provide comprehensive data for the investigation.This study suggests that balconies in high-rise apartments could improve the ventilation performance of high-rise apartments,but that balconies can also have a negative impact on ventilation performance if not appropriately designed.Finally,this study suggests that balconies could improve the level of thermal comfort and indoor air quality of apartments by providing greater indoor air speed and better ventilation performance,respectively.

Prevention and Control Measures for Vertical Spread of Fire along the External Wall of High-rise Buildings

In the analysis and research of few cases on the characteristics of vertical"burning"and spreading of fire in high-rise buildings in China and overseas,the mechanism of vertical spreading of fire along external wall is caused by hot pressing and wind pressure existing in high-rise buildings.The use of external wall combustible materials and near-window combustible items resulted in the formation of high temperature pyrotechnics and the burning of the external wall.Besides,due to the lack of fire-fighting measurements in high-rise building,it is recommended that the external wall of the high-rise building should be equipped with vertical fire-proof partitioning and non-combustible materials by setting up an automatic fire-fighting water curtain system along the vertical section of the external wall and above the indoor window.Therefore,the automatic sprinkler can be set up to prevent the fire from spreading vertically along the external wall of the building effectively.

Feasibility of achieving net-zero energy performance in high-rise buildings using solar energy

As part of a broad strategy to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming,many countries are requiring all new buildings to have net-zero energy use.This requires that on-site energy use not exceed on-site generation of renewable energy(taken here to be solar energy),or equivalently,that the building Energy Use Intensity(EUI,kWh/m^(2)a)not exceed the supply of on-site solar energy(electricity and heat)per m^(2)of floor area per year.On this basis,we find that achieving net-zero energy performance in an archetype 40-story square building in 16 different cities of North America requires EUI of 17–24 kWh/m^(2)a using PV panels,and 19–28 kWh/m^(2)a using PVT collectors.Changing building orientation to a non-square floor shape can improve maximum permitted EUI by up to 50%in PV and 60%in PVT case.Conversely,the best-performing residential and commercial buildings have EUIs of 50–75 kWh/m^(2)a.Only if building heights are limited to 5–10 floors does the available solar energy,and thus the permitted EUI,reach 50–75 kWh/m^(2)a.Therefore,we recommend that policymakers not require high-rise buildings to be net-zero energy,unless they are prepared to limit building heights to 5–10 floors.