Structural design and analysis of vertical double-layer space structures in super-tall buildings

SUMMARY This paper investigates the potential of double‐layer space structures to be applied vertically as a new structural system in super‐tall buildings. The investigation using case studies covers four stages: structural designs of 100‐storey buildings in order to obtain internal force distributions and determine appropriate structural member sizes, analyses of the impacts of wind and seismic loads on the structures, sensitivity of structural weight ratios and lateral deflection constraints to changing structural geometry, and comparison of the lateral deflected shapes and structural weights per unit area with those of other current tall structural systems. The results show that changing the angles of diagonal members to make them span two storeys rather than one storey reduces structural weight and has little impact on lateral deflection. Compared with other current tall structures, vertical double‐layer space structures are relatively efficient structurally. The study concludes that double‐layer space structures can be applied vertically as a structural system of super‐tall buildings. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.