A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN BRACED AND NON-BRACED HIGH-RISE STRUCTURES

Abstract

This study was carried out in the Department of Civil Engineering of Stamford University Bangladesh with the objectives of comparison of lateral loadings effects on different structural system of high rise building.

The building system is one of the most important considerations in the conceptual stage of building design. Since the building shape determines the size and the orientation of the exterior envelope exposed to the outdoor environment, it can affect building performance in many aspects: energy efficiency, cost and aesthetics. Too often, however, decisions on the building shape are based on aesthetics only, which has the evident disadvantage of limiting the potential of performance improvement. Shape optimization can help overcome this disadvantage by exploring more design alternatives at the conceptual design stage for specific criteria such as environmental and economic performance.

The shape and exterior structure of a house play major roles in determining its energy efficiency and the comfort of residents. The shape is comprised of the building’s height, width, and depth—also known as the footprint. The exterior structure—also known as the building envelope—includes the walls, roof, windows, doors, and cladding. The footprint and envelope of the home can either enhance efficiency or contribute to more energy consumption. Homes that have simple or uncomplicated shapes are typically more efficient to heat and cool than homes with complex or irregular shapes.

The determination of the structural shape of a high-rise building would preferably involve only the selection and arrangement of the major structural element to resist most efficiently the various combinations of gravity & horizontal loading. In reality, however the choice of structural shape is usually strongly influenced by other than structural consideration like: internal planning, the material, method of construction, the external architectural treatment, the planned location, routing of service systems, the nature & magnitude of the horizontal loading & the height and proportions of the building.

Based on the above considerations, this study focuses on the responses by analyzing the effects of the lateral loads on two 20 storied high-rise structures having Edge Supported floor systems each of which one with braced frame and another with non-braced frame and finally, presents a comparative result.