Linking Skyscrapers - A Conceptual Study on Skybridges' Effects on the Structural Behaviour of Tall Buildings Subject to Quasi-Static Wind Loads

Abstract

Increasing urbanisation has led to many cities now featuring 100m+ skyscrapers located right next to each other. Thus, the development of tall buildings will have a large impact on our future cities. In this thesis, the structural systems of tall buildings are studied and the general effect on the structural behaviour of two towers linked together by skybridges subject to wind loading is investigated. The trends for deformations and stress distributions for skybridges of different structural configurations and height along the towers are reported. Among other findings, it was seen that by applying the structural links at heights of about 0,3 times the total height of the towers, the load on one of the towers could be shared equally amongst the base of both towers. Additionally, the displacement at the link was found to vary approximately linearly with link height, with the magnitude varying with link stiffness. The reported findings will hopefully be a useful tool in the conceptual design stage of a linked building system.