Tower Structure: Ow Skyscrapers Work?

MODULE 5: TOWER STRUCTURE

How skyscrapers work?

“Making it functional”
In the previous modules, conventional and innovative way of constructions emerged
that opened the door for new possibilities of sky-reaching buildings. But this is only the half
picture of it. After skyscrapers became a reality, architects and builders had to make it practical.
Once you get more than five or six floors, stairs become a fairly inconvenient technology.
Skyscrapers would never have worked without the coincident emergence of elevator
technology. Ever since the first passenger elevator was installed in New York's Haughwout
Department Store in 1857, elevator shafts have been a major part of skyscraper design. In most
skyscrapers, the elevator shafts make up the building's central core.
BUILDING SAFETY
This is a major consideration in design. Skyscrapers wouldn't have worked so well
without the advent of new fire-resistant building materials in the 1800s. These days,
skyscrapers are also outfitted with sophisticated sprinkler equipment that puts out most fires
before they spread very far. This is extremely important when you have hundreds of people
living and working thousands of feet above a safe exit.
1. Seismic Design
Is it possible to build an earthquake proof building? The answer is yes and no.
There are of course, engineering techniques that can be used to create a very sound
structure that will endure a modest or even strong quake. However, during a very strong
earthquake, even the best engineered building may suffer severe damage. Engineers design
buildings to withstand as much sideways motion as possible in order to minimize damage to
the structure and give the occupants time to get out safely.
Buildings are basically designed to support a vertical load in order to support the
walls, roof and all the stuff inside to keep them standing. Earthquakes present a lateral, or
sideways, load to the building structure that is a bit more complicated to account for. One
way to make a simple structure more resistant to these lateral forces is to tie the walls,
floor, roof, and foundations into a rigid box that holds together when shaken by a quake.

2. Escape chute systems

The standard means of emergency egress should always be the used to egress the
building in an emergency. It has various formats, that allow evacuees to descend vertically
down as in "Verti-Scape" Escape Chute, or you can slide down at an incline as in our "Slide-
Scape" both are a proven methods of emergency evacuation.
Verti-Scape, The Vertical Escape Chute is a device which aids in the mass and rapid
evacuation of people from high structures, where one chute is capable of evacuating some
MODULE 5: TOWER STRUCTURE 1

375 evacuees from a high rise building in 15 to 20 minutes. Generally escape chutes
deployed outside of the building have a height limit of around 120meters or 50 floors. Total
weight of 1000kg regardless of chute length.
UTILITIES
These are infrastructure services provided to consumers that are sometimes considered to
be public services. They are supplied to the public and are important for the normal functioning
of a skyscraper. It is generally considered to include: electricity, gas, water and sewage and
communications services.
Mechanical floor is a story of a high-rise building that is dedicated to mechanical and
electronics equipment. As a rule of thumb, skyscrapers require a mechanical floor for every 10
tenant floors (10%) although this percentage can vary widely
1. MEPF
It is the acronym word for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire protection also
called as Building services in countries of Middle East and US where it is commonly used.
This part of construction is no more sector for Architects and Civil engineers. Modern
buildings are emerging so many systems for comfort, safety and security are provided for its
occupants.
a) Mechanical
HVAC (Heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system is to control temperature,
humidity and ventilation inside the buildings. It incorporates the control of
environmental factors, either for human comfort or for the operation of machines.
b) Electrical
Electric utilities transmit power from the power sources most efficiently at very high
voltages. Large buildings have a much higher electrical load than small buildings;
therefore, the electrical equipment must be larger and more robust. It is supplied by
multiple source of electricity;
 LEUC – Supplied from substations or (LEUC) Local Electrical Utility Company.
 Stand by power source – Supplied from on-site generator sets.
c) Plumbing
High-rise buildings have very complex and challenging plumbing systems. There
is not much plumbing code language that specifically addresses how a high-rise building
should be designed to save energy, save water, and provide the owner and occupants
with a sustainable and safe installation.
 Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) – Also known as wastewater treatment. It is the
process of removing contaminants from wastewater to discharge safely back into
the environment. A byproduct of sewage treatment is a semi solid waste or
slurry called sewage sludge.

 Water distribution – Three classifications; Water service system, pressurized
water system and receiving tank type water supply. The use of roof tanks to
ensure adequate water pressure in buildings, and especially tall buildings, is very
common. The alternative to roof tanks is the use of pressurized systems, where a
number of booster pumps provide the necessary pressure.
d) Fire protection
Firefighting system to extinguish accidental fire while fire alarm system is to
evacuate the occupants in case of fire.
LIFT STRUCTURE
It is balancing act of sorts. As you add more floors to a building, you increase the
building's occupancy. When you have more people, you obviously need more elevators or the
lobby will fill up with people waiting in line. But elevator shafts take up a lot of room, so you
lose floor space for every elevator you add. To make more room for people, you have to add
more floors. Deciding on the right number of floors and elevators is one of the most important
parts of designing a building.
Two major kinds of lift
1. Hydraulic lift
They are used for low-rise applications of 2-8 stories and travel at a maximum speed of
200 feet per minute. The machine room for hydraulic elevators is located at the lowest level
adjacent to the elevator shaft.
2. Roped lift
They are used for mid and high-rise applications and have much higher travel speeds
than hydraulic elevators. A counter weight makes the elevators more efficient by offsetting
the weight of the car and occupants so that the motor doesn't have to move as much
weight. Widely used type of elevator design.
Lift installation by zone system
1. One system zone
This type of lift system is for building not exceeding 15 levels. The lift car stops at every
level of the building. It is commonly used to save spaces.
2. Two system zone
This type of lift system is for building exceeding 15 levels but not greater than 40 levels.
It has system brake into two zone of lift. It will not stop at any lower zones.

MAINTENANCE
New Technology
Skyscraper construction and design have remained largely unchanged over the
last century. Builders have stuck to old materials and techniques. Several aspects of
construction are due for radical changes to increase efficiency and improve
sustainability. Greener alternatives are also gaining traction.
a) Structural Design
 Megatruss Seismic Isolation Structure
The designers of the multi-purpose high-rise in seismically active Japan were
able to resolve two very different requirements in one building through the use of
an intermediate structural solution that transfers forces safely through the
transition. The seismic isolation, comprised of a megatruss with diagonals,
megacolumns, a belt truss, lead rubber bearings, and oil dampers, enables these
contrasting requirements to coexist in the same building.
 Hummingbird Kinetics Damping System

A tuned liquid column gas damper (TLCGD) – that can be distributed
throughout a building instead of being installed in a single location.Compared to
traditional liquid-tank dampers of equivalent performance, the Hummingbird needs
less liquid mass in order to be effective. As a result, it provides an affordable,
compact, flexible and easy-to-maintain alternative to slosh tanks and pendulum
dampers for new buildings – all without compromising high performance.
b) Elevator System
 KONE Ultrarope Hoisting Technology
A new carbon-fiber hoisting technology, the weight and bending
advantages of which effectively double the distance an elevator can travel in a
single shaft – to 1,000 m (1 km). Comprised of a carbon fiber core and an epoxy-
based high-friction coating, Making it extremely light, meaning elevator energy
consumption and machine room size in high-rise buildings can be cut
significantly.

 MULTI Elevators
Ropes moving elevators up and down simply won’t cut it for taller building
demands. There is a new system called MULTI by ThyssenKrupp that eliminates the
need for ropes by harnessing the power of linear motor technology to move multiple
cars in a single shaft— both vertically and horizontally.The new elevator offers
significantly shorter wait times, increased capacity, a smaller footprint, and
substantially reduced weight and mass. MULTI has multiple cabins that travel up one
shaft and down the other in one continuous loop.
Change Ability of Components or Parts
The structural elements of a skyscraper require no maintenance and they are
designed to last indefinitely. Failure of structural components are extremely rare since
they are over-designed, inspected and tested prior to use. However there are some
components or parts that may be wear and tear much faster that they should be due to
mishandling, misuse, or harsh weather conditions such as:
 Glass or Curtain walls that could be damage overtime.
 Low quality fixture products.
 Ability for retrofitting elevators and other mechanical system.
 Compatibility for other material to adjoin.

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MODULE 5: TOWER STRUCTURE

How skyscrapers work?

2. Escape chute systems

MODULE 5: TOWER STRUCTURE 1

MODULE 5: TOWER STRUCTURE 2

MODULE 5: TOWER STRUCTURE 3

 Hummingbird Kinetics Damping System

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