Analysis of High-Rise Buildings Under Cyclic Loads : Wind and Earthquakes Loads

Abstract

This research is concerned with the study of the effects of wind and earthquakes on tall buildings. Tall buildings are buildings in which the slenderness ratios (heights to the smaller plan dimensions) are large, this makes such buildings more exposed to the horizontal forces resulting from wind, earthquakes, water pressure and other similar actions. This research is concerned with just wind and earthquakes because they have more probability to occur in Sudan. Many structural forms are used to resist horizontal forces like frame systems, shear walls and combined systems. A study of a building consisting of twenty stories has been done by analyzing it using the computer program (ETABS9). The analysis was carried out for the building under three different systems of load, namely (D.L+L.L), wind loads and earthquakes loads. A comparison has been made between wind and earthquakes loads as additional loads applied on the building besides its own loads (D.L+L.L) so as to study the effect of wind and earthquakes loads on tall building and what to expect when those loads are neglected. These results are displayed on figures to explain their effect the on buildings. Based on these results some recommendations have been drawn for the structural engineers to consider in the design stage of high-rise buildings subject to wind and earthquakes.