EFFECT OF WIND LOADS ON NON REGULARLY SHAPED HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS

Wind loads have historically been recognized as one of the most important issue in high-rise buildings analysis and design. In particular, in regions of low seismic intensity, a high-rise building lateral design is controlled by wind loads. In wind analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and/or wind tunnel testing are required to calculate the external pressures acting on a building. In this paper, two case studies are presented to show how the wind loads are calculated and applied in design. The first case study is based on the CFD results for the New Marina Casablanca Tower in Casablanca, Morocco. The second case study considers the results from the wind tunnel test studies conducted for the Al- Hamra tower, in Kuwait City, Kuwait. The New Marina Casablanca tower is a 167m tall concrete building, with a unique twisting shape generated from the relative rotation of two adjacent floors. Sloped columns are introduced in the perimeter to follow the tower outer geometry and to support the concrete slabs spanning between the central core and the perimeter frame. The effects of wind loads on the twisted geometry has been studied in details since the pressure coefficients are not easily identified for such a complex form. In addition, the effect of the wind loads on the structure presented unique challenges that required innovative structural solutions. The Al-Hamra tower is a 412m tall concrete building with a sculpted twisting form which optimizes the views to the Arabian Gulf while minimizing the solar heat gain. The complex form is realized using sloped walls and vertical columns on the perimeter and a central concrete core. The unique shape of the tower presented several design challenges related to the wind loads on the structure. This paper will discuss the unique challenges and solutions associated with wind loads effect on buildings of unique form.