Innovative solutions for the performance enhancement of diagrid structural systems

Abstract

The construction of tall buildings started in the late nineteenth century in the United States newlineof America. Since then, the rest of the world rapidly adopted it and the presence of tall newlinebuildings have become a marker for development. The development of tall buildings newlineinvolves various complex factors such as economics, pleasing appearance, technological newlineadvancement, municipal regulations and policies; the major factor being the economics. newlineThis development was made possible by supporting technologies leading to a structural newlinerevolution involving steel skeletal structures as well as glass curtain wall systems. newlineThe tall buildings shall be designed to withstand the gravitational loads and lateral newlineloads, due to the action of wind, earthquake, etc., and hence require a good lateral load newlineresisting system for maintaining the lateral stability of the building. Therefore, it is newlineessential that high-rise buildings have structural systems which are built and designed for newlineresisting different loads. Structural systems of tall buildings can be divided based on newlinedistribution of components of lateral load resisting elements into two broad categories newlineviz., interior structures and exterior structures, of which diagrid structures belong to the newlineexterior structures. newlineDiagrid means diagonal grids and is defined as a supporting framework in a building newlineformed with diagonally intersecting ribs of metal or concrete. Diagrid frame is divided newlineinto a number of modules along the height of the structure. A basic element of a diagrid newlinesystem is the triangular element consisting of two inclined diagonals and a horizontal ring newlinebeam. Compared to closely spaced vertical columns in framed tube, diagrid consists of newlineinclined columns on the exterior surface of the building. newline