Integrated Civil Engineering

Design Project
(Building Structure Design)
CIVL 395

HKUST

By : Ir. K.S. Kwan

Date: 3/07
Content
1. Building Control in Hong Kong
2. Design Criteria
3. Structural Form (Residential Building)
4. Hong Kong Wind Loading
5. Computer Modeling
6. Design Example
STRUCTURAL FORM
for Residential Building
Tower
Podium Structure
Building adjacent to slope
 Lintel beam Slab

To identify the wall as structural

element and link them together by lintel Wall
beam to provide sufficient lateral
stiffness
Slab Design

Concrete grade
Grade 30 to 35 (too high concrete grade may lead to thermal crack
during large pour of concrete)

Steel reinforcement percentage

Design as HK CoP 2004 for structural use of concrete
Average steel ratio is around 120~140 Kg/m3

Preliminary slab size estimation

About 100mm~400mm depending on the span of slab ( to minimize

the number of different slab thickness, say 2 ~3 types, at typical floor
for buildability consideration

To consider the following loading

Self weight
Finishes (domestic area/toilet/kitchen) (25mm to 80mm thick)
Partition
Slab is designed as
one-way or two ways
slab
Wall Design

Concrete grade
Grade 30, 40, 60 or more is commonly used. By using high strength
concrete, it can optimize the wall thickness and increase the lateral
stiffness of wall. The concrete grade will also be changed along the
height of building e.g. from Grade 60 at lower floor to Grade 30 at top
roof.

The thickness will be trimmed down along the height of building e.g.
from 400 at 1/F and gradually changed to 200 at top floor. The
thickness will be changed every 10 ~20 storey to minimize the
disturbance on construction.

Steel reinforcement percentage

Design as HK CoP 2004
Average steel ratio is around 100~150Kg/m3

Preliminary wall size estimation

Gravity Load by tributary method
Wind Load by simple computer model
 Vertical Element Gravity Load Estimation by
Tributary Area Method

250 2625 200 2625 250

W2
200

W3

W1 W1
3900

C1

Plan 3-D
TRIBUTARY AREA METHOD

Assumption

No. of storey = 20
Storey height = 2800
Slab thickness = 150
Beam size = 400x200 (ext.)
Beam size = 450x250 (int.)
Dead Load = 10KPa
Live Load = 3KPa
 TRIBUTARY AREA METHOD

(KN)
250 2625 200 2625 250
C1 1686

W2
200 W1 2264

W3
W2 2568
W1 W1
3900
W3 1266

C1

Plan
Lintel Beam Design (where linking shear
wall together to transmit wind shear force) Lintel
Beam
Size
Width as wall thickness
Depth controlled by headroom (min.
under side of beam i.e. 2100 at door
and 2300 under beam
Concrete grade same as floor slab
for easy concrete pour with slab or
more if required

Steel reinforcement percentage

Design as HK CoP 2004
Average steel ratio is around 120
~160 Kg/m3

Preliminary lintel size estimation

Wind Load by simple computer
model; the size is always controlled
by wind shear transmission (in some
critical case, steel plate will be used
to replace r.c. design to enhance the
wind shear transmission)
Gravity Load by tributary method
(not the controlled case) Steel plate at lintel
beam
Transfer
Structure
Tower
(Shear Wall system)

Podium
(Plate Structure)

Supporting Column
(Rigid Frame)
Transfer Girder Structure

The behavior is similar to deep beam when

the wall extending to columns such as case a,
b & c.
Transfer Plate Structure
Shear Wall Column
Structure at Structure below
Tower above Transfer Plate
Transfer Plate

Thick plate structure

to support all wall
structures above
Transfer Plate
Transfer Structure Design (Plate or Girder)

Design similar to pilecap or beam

Closed column spacing under the transfer structure to allow truss effect
at transfer structure to minimize the deformation of transfer structure
(Prestressed transfer structure is required for large span )

Steel reinforcement percentage

Design as HK CoP 2004
Average steel ratio is around 240~280 Kg/m3

Preliminary size estimation (1.5m ~5m)

Depend on the spacing of columns and tower loading
Gravity load as the wall load transmitted tower load to plate level
Wind load the plate behaviour as frame structure integrated with columns
below
Normally, the thickness is controlled by shear stress
Podium Loading from tower
Structure including:
Behavior (P) Axial Load
(M) Moment
(V) Shear

Transfer Plate Design

To cater for gravity load and
wind load from tower
structure including axial load,
moment and shear
The transfer plate with
column below to form a rigid
frame structure
All loadings are transmitted
to foundation by shear,
moment and axial force.
Transfer Plate with
Prestressed Tendon
Building Development
Adjacent to Slope
Retaining structure is
required for building
near the slope
The extent of
excavation will
depend on the subsoil
condition of slope i.e.
Rock / Soil
? ?
? ??
??
??
??
Building Development
near Slope

Walls at Tower

Transfer Plate

Column under
transfer structure

Large Diameter
Bored Pile Pile Cap
Retaining Wall Structure

Pile Cap
Retaining structure for
semi-basement
construction
 Retaining Wall
Structure with
deep excavation
required
 Two levels
basement to
reduce the deep
excavation
HONG KONG
WIND LOAD
Wind Load
Assessment Procedure
 Wind Responses of a Building
Static Equivalent
Static Load
No movement Wind direction
WC 2004

Dynamic

- Along wind - Cross wind - Torsional wind

response response response
Gust Factor
Literature/ Wind Tunnel Test
Method
WC 2004
WC 2004
 Wind Load Assessment Procedure
(1)
Step 1 Determine Method of Calculation
Determine method of calculation according to the signpost in Cl. 3.3 (p.2)
and Cl. 7.6 (p.5).
Method Signpost in Wind Code 2004 Characteristic

I (i) fnatural > 1Hz; or No significant resonant

(ii) H <= 5 x Min (B, D); and dynamic response
H <= 100m Equivalent Static Load
Method [Cl. 5, p.3]
II (i) fnatural <= 1Hz; and Susceptible to along wind
(ii) H > 5 x Min (B, D); or resonant response
H > 100m Gust Factor Method
[Cl. 7, p.4]
III (i) Open frame with significant Susceptible to dynamic
resonant dynamic response, or excitation
(ii) fnatural < 0.2Hz, or Recommendation from
(iii) Significant cross wind / literature/ Dynamic wind
torsional resonant response tunnel test [App. A, p.7]
To determine building
height (H) and width
(B,D)

Building least
horizontal dimension
(B,D)

Building
B height (H)

Building on plan
To define the height
and least dimension Sec A-A
of building
b

A-A h

B-B
Sec B-B
 Wind Load Assessment Procedure (2)
Steps 2 - 5
Step Method 1 Static Building Method 2 Slightly Dynamic Building

2a Calculate Design Wind Pressure Calculate Design Hourly Mean Wind

(3-sec. gust pressure) Pressure
[Table 1, p.3] [Table 2, p.5]

2b Calculate Gust Response Factor (G)

[Appendix F, p.19~21]

3 Calculate Topography Factor Calculate Topography Factor

[Appendix C, p.10~13] [Appendix C, p.10~13]

4 Calculate Force Coefficients (Cf) Calculate Force Coefficients (Cf)

Height Aspect Factor, Ch Height Aspect Factor, Ch
Shape Factor, Cs Shape Factor, Cs
Reduction Factor, RA
[Appendix D, p.14~16] [Appendix D, p.14~15]

5 Calculate Total Wind Force Calculate Total Along-Wind Force

F = Cf. qz .Az F = G. Cf . qz .Az
[Eqn (1), p. 3] [Eqn (3), p. 4]
Step 2a Design Wind Pressure/ Design
Hourly Mean Wind Pressure

Wind Code 2004

Only One Terrain
Open Sea Terrain
 Wind Profiles Below 200m
Wind Pressure Profile Under 200m
250
1983

1983
200 (Stepwise)
PNAP150

2004
150
Height (m)

100

50

0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
Pressure (KPa)
 Step 2b - Along Wind Dynamic
Resonant Response by Gust Factor
Method (1)
The original method was developed by Davenport
(1967) and Vickery (1966 and 1971)

In Wind Code 2004, the equation is simplified to:

2
g f SE
G = 1 + 2I h gv B +
2

(Refer to Wind Code 2004 Appendix F for

description of the other variables)
Step 2b - Along Wind Dynamic Resonant
Response by Gust Factor Method (2)
Dynamic resonant response is dependant on the
magnitude of the fluctuating load as well as its size
(or scale) in relation to the size of the structure

The size reduction factor, S, accounts for the

correlation of pressures over a building and is equal
to 1 h/ represents
3.5na h 4na b the size of the
1 + 1 + b/ wind gust
Vh Vh

The reduction factor, RA, in Table D3 (p.16) does

not apply to the Gust Factor Method in
Appendix F
 Step 3 Topography Factor (1)

Wind Code 2004

Speed up ratio adopted from BS6399-2:1995
except that the altitude factor in BS6399-2 was
excluded

(In BS6399-2, altitude factor is used to adjust

the basic wind speed for the altitude of the site
above seal level.)
Step 3 Topography Factor (2)
Step 3 Topography Factor (3)
Step 3 Topography Factor (4)
Step 3 Topography Factor (5)
These examples are taken
from British reference book
based on British Code. Due to
the different requirements in
British Code and Hong Kong
Code regarding the idealization
of the hill/slope, the actual
hill/slope shall be differently
idealized under the two Codes.
These examples from British
were for illustration only and
the method of idealizing the
hill/slope should not be copied
for application to Hong Kong
Code.
Step 3 Topography Factor (6)
 Step 3 Topography Factor (7)

Comment: Idealized slope (a) may be more appropriate for Hong Kong Code.
Topography Factor (App. C of HK Wind Code)
 Forces on Buildings
1. Total Force on a Building
F = Cf qz Az
where Cf = force coefficient
qz = design wind pressure at height z
Az = effective projected area of that part of the
building corresponding to qz
2. The effective projected area of an enclosed building shall
be the frontal projected area
3. The effect projected area of an open framework building
shall be the aggregate projected area of all members on a
plane normal to the direction of the wind
4. Each building shall be designed for the effects of wind
pressures acting along each of the critical directions
 Force Coefficeints
A. For Enclosed Building
a) Cf = Ch x Cs
b) From other international codes accetped by
BA
c) For building with isolated blocks projecting
above a general roof level, individual force
coefficients corresponding to the height
and shape of each block shall be applied.
d) For building composed of similar contiguous
structures separated by expansion joints,
the force coefficients shall be applied to
the entire building.
 Height Aspect Ratio Ch

Height Height Aspect Factor Ch

Breadth
1983 2004

1.0 or less 0.95 0.95

2.0 1.0 1.0

4.0 1.05 1.05

6.0 1.1 1.1

10.0 1.2 1.2

20.0 and over - 1.4

Remark: Linear Interpolation to obtain intermediate values

 Shape Factors Cs for Enclosed Building

Plan Shape b/d Cs Cs for buildings

with closed
Rectangular spacing
d 1.0 or less 1.0

wind
b 2.0 1.1 b

3.0 and over 1.3

d
Remark: Interpolate linearly
 Shape Factors Cs for Enclosed Building
Plan Shape Cs

Circular

wind 0.75

Other Shapes Cs for the Respective enclosing

rectangular shape in the direction of
the wind

Note:
When the actual shape of a building renders it to become sensitive
to wind acting not perpendicular to its face, the diagonal wind
effects and torsional wind effects should be considered
 Reduction Factor RA
Gusts are the results of eddies and vortices
The speed of gust is a function of its duration
The smaller the size of the gust, the shorter will be its duration and the
higher will be the gust speed
The larger the size of gust, the longer will be its duration and the lower the
average gust speed
A small gust can only create high wind loading on a small local area of the
structure
The whole structure should be designed with the speed of a gust which is
just big enough to affect the whole structure simultaneously
A 3 second gust can normally engulf a building with frontal area of 300 to
800m2, a longer duration gust is required to be effective on the whole of
the structure
A reduction factor is therefore applied when designing buildings of larger
dimensions
(E.C.C.Choi Commentary on 1983 wind codes)
Not applicable for buildings with significant resonant dynamic response
designed by using hourly mean wind pressure
 Reduction Factor RA for Enclosed
Buildings
Reduction Factor RA
Frontal Projected Area m2
2004
500 or less 1.00
800 0.97
1000 0.96
3000 0.92
5000 0.89
8000 0.86
10000 0.84
15000 and over 0.80

Note : Linear Interpolation may be used to obtain intermediate values

 Wind Load Case
X & Y directions are commonly accepted
Additional wind direction (e.g. diagonal wind
for Y-shape building) is required
For large frontal area building (say >50m),
additional torsional wind load (10% of long
face dimension) is required
Wind Load Distribution
at Building
Wind Load Calculation as HK CoP
(Building is considered as significant resonant dynamic structure)
Wind load
calculation at each
floor for a building with
40 storey (with 3 floors
above domestic floor)
and the building width
is 40.23m
Building structure as
significant resonant
dynamic structure \
Sa=topography
factor
Wind Load Calculation as HK CoP
(Building is not considered as significant resonant dynamic structure)
Wind load
calculation at each
floor for a building
with 40 storey (with 3
floors above
domestic floor) and
the building width is
40.23m
Building structure
not considered as
significant resonant
dynamic structure
(Note: Total wind
shear is larger based
on static wind load
approach for building
aspect ratio just
greater than 5)
Sa = topography
factor
COMPUTER MODELING
Common Structural Analysis
Software used in Hong Kong

GSA
ETABS STARIII
SAP2000 GTSTRUDL
SAFE PAFEC
SADS STAN
 Tall Building Modelling Assumptions
Only the primary
structural

1. Material All structural components are

put in model

components behave
linearly elastically.

2. Participating
Components only the
primary structural
components participate
in the overall behaviour

3. Floor slabs Floor slab Rigid in plane

are assumed to be rigid
in plane unless they
contain large openings
or are long and narrow
in plan
 Tall Building Modelling Assumptions
This line should be a
4. Negligible stiffness straight line in
assumption due to the
component stiffness of small deformation

relatively small magnitude

are assumed negligible

5. Negligible deformations
deformations that are
relatively small and of little
influence are neglected.

6. Cracking the effects of

cracking in reinforced
concrete members to
flexural tensile stresses may
be represented by a
reduced stiffness
How to apply wind loading in V
computer model?
In common building shape
with the rigid diaphragm
assumption, the wind load
should be applied at the
geometry centre of each floor

Wind
load
applied
at floor

Wind load applied at

centre of frontal area
What can you find in
computer modeling?

Seismic, wind and gravity

analysis

Deformation of building
under different loading
conditions

Member force under

different loading conditions
Deflection of building at top
floor including the X & Y
displacement and Z direction
rotation
 Q&A
If you have any questions about the structural design, please
forward email (with your Name and Student ID no.)
to : akskwan@gmail.com