Structural Analysis and Design Challenges of the Shanghai Center

摘要

This paper discusses the structural system, analysis and design challenges of 126-story, 632-meter tall Shanghai Center, one of the tallest buildings in the world. For economy, this tower uses a unique "Core-Outrigger-Mega Frame" lateral system developed from a traditional "Core-Outrigger" system. Steel and reinforced concrete (SRC) super columns and box steel belt trusses at mechanical equipment levels form a perimeter Mega Frame to provide additional stiffness and strength to the whole lateral system. This tower site has bedrock beyond reach of practical foundations. Nine layers of compressible clays and sands alternate to a depth of 120 meters. A foundation system of a thick concrete mat on long concrete bored shafts with end grouting provides high bearing capacity and controls settlement. The twisting exterior facade is created by an innovative double-skin architectural design. The outer skin is supported on a unique structural system resembling a bicycle wheel in plan. The design meets code-based strength-oriented requirements, with additional Performance Based Design studies used to verify tower performance under different seismic hazard levels through non-linear dynamic time-history analysis.