This course gives a brief introduction to Skyscrapers, shows some examples of them around the world. It also discuses in brief their different available structural systems and gives a very fast introduction to their Aerodynamic behavior. It might be very useful for final year undergraduate students and to young engineers who want to pursue a career in the design of tall buildings be, towers and Skyscrapers. The structural challenges of building 800 meters into the sky are substantial, and
include several factors which do not affect low-rise construction. This course focuses
on these areas specifically to provide the architectural and structural knowledge
which must be taken into account in order to design tall buildings successfully. Case studies of some of the world’s most iconic buildings, illustrated in full color,
will bring to life the design challenges which they presented to architects and struc-
tural engineers. The Empire State Building, the Burj Khalifa, the Taipei 101 and the
Pirelli Building are just a few examples of the buildings whose real-life specifications
are used to explain and illustrate core design principles, and their subsequent effect
on the finished structure. This course includes the following topics:
Introduction: Skyscrapers-Structural Systems and Aerodynamic Form
Tall buildings
Lateral loads affecting tall buildings
The structural systems of tall buildings
Tall building case studies
The effect of wind on tall buildings
design approaches against wind excitation
Appendix: Examples of tall buildings and their structural systems