ULTRA HIGH RISE

BUILDINGS
(TUBE STRUCTURES)
By
J.C.WASON

ULTRA HIGH
RISE
BUILDINGS BY
J.C.WASON

102 STOREYED EMPIRE STATE BLDG, NEW YORK, USA.

What is a Tube
Structure ?
A Tube structure is a 3
dimensional stiff Tube like
structure which acts like a
vertical cantilever, fixed to
base, and is acted upon vertical
forces due to Dead loads and
live loads and Horizontal Forces
due to Earthquake and Wind.

TUBE SYSTEMS
A TUBE STRUCTURE :
(i). IS A STIFF VERTICAL HOLLOW TUBE LIKE
3D STRUCTURE
(ii). ACTS AS A VERTICAL CANTILEVER
FIXED AT BASE
(iii). IS SUBJECTED TO VERTICAL FORCES
DUE TO
DL + LL AND HOR FORCES DUE TO

W=DL+LL

(WIND/EQ)

HOR. LOADS DUE TO WIND /EQ

H
W

TUBE SYSTEMS
A Tube structure is a 3 D space
Tube like stiff vertical cantilever
system fixed at base and
subjected to vertical loads due to
D.L & L.L & Horizontal loads due
to EQ & wind

TUBE SYSTEMS

TUBE STRUCTURES :
Def: A Three dimensional space
structure composed of Stiff rigid
frames, Braced frames, Shear
walls or their combinations
joined together to form a Tube
like structural system capable of
resisting lateral forces in any
direction by cantilevering from
foundations.

TUBE SYSTEMS
A TUBE STRYCTURE CONSISTS OF :

STIFF RIGID FRAMES

BRACED FRAMES
SHEAR WALLS
COMBINATION OF ABOVE ELEMETS

JOINED TOGETHER TO ACT AS A

RIGID VERTICAL TUBE FIXED AT BASE

Tube structures :
Entire Tube structure
participates in
overturning resistance.

Tube structures :
Location of resisting elements
Resisting elements in a Tube structures may be
located
Around internally located service cores.
Around exterior perimeter.
Faade of a building.

Tube Structures are generally

extended from Foundations to Full
height of the building.

Types of Tube
Structures :
Following Types of Tube Structures
are normally adopted :
1.Framed Tubes.
2.Trussed (or Braced) Tubes.
3.

Multiple Tube Systems :

(i). Tube in Tubes
(ii). Bundled Tubes

1. Framed Tubes :
A Framed Tube system has closely
spaced columns and deep spandrel
beams, such that the entire structure
acts like a perforated cantilevered
vertical Tube resisting lateral loads
due to Wind and EQ.
Examples : 40 storeyed De Witt
Apartment Building, USA.

FRAMED TUBE SYSTEMS

CONSIST OF :
CLOSELY SPACED COLUMNS
STIFFENED BY DEEP STIFF
SPANDREL BEAMS
WHOLE STR ACTS LIKE A
PERFORATED VERTICAL TUBE
STIFFENED BY FLOOR SLABS

STRESS IN COLUMN DUE TO

TRUE CANTILEVER

ACTUAL STRESS DUE

TO SHEAR LAG

AXIAL STRESS IN
COLUMN DUE TO
WIND ONLY
CLOSELY SPACED COLS STIFFENED
BY DEEP STIFF SPANDREL BEAMS

ACTUAL
STRESS DUE
TO SHEAR
LAG
THE
CANTILEVER
STRESS

FRAMED TUBE : Consists of closely spaced stiffened

columns.

40 ST DE WITT
APARTMENT BLDG

FRAMED TUBE :
40 storeyed De Witt
Apartment Bldg USA.
Col spacing = 1.7 m
c/c
Stiffened by stiff
beams

DE WITT BLDG
40 STOREYED DE WITT
BLDG, USA FRAMED TUBE
SYSTEM.

TRANSFER GIRDER
(TO PROVIDE FOR
LARGER SPACED
COLUMNS TO
FACILITATE

40 STOREYED DE WITT BLDG, USA : FRAMED TUBE SYSTEM

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

2. Trussed (or Braced) Tubes :

Similar to Framed Tube But The exterior
columns are braced with diagonals to
provide additional stiffness which makes
all the columns to act as a rigid Tube.
An efficient system in terms of inherent
lateral strength and rigidity.
Very efficient structural system in the
range of
100 storeyes.
Example : 100 storeyed John Honcock Tower
in Chicago ( 1968 ).

BRACED TUBE SYSTEMS

SIMILAR TO FRAMED TUBES BUT
EXTERNAL COLS STIFFENED BY
DIAGONAL BRACES.
BRACING OF EXTERNAL COLS
INCREASES RIGIDITY OF TUBE
CAN BE ADOPTED FOR BLDGS UPTO
100 STOREYES HEIGHT.

JOHN HANCOCK
TOWER
JOHN HAN COCK
TOWER, CHICAGO,
USA. :
100 STOREYED
BRACED FRAMED
TUBE SYSTEM BLDG.

BRACIN
G TO
STIFFEN
COLUMN
S

100 STOREYED JOHN HANCOCK TOWER BLDG, CHICAGO,

USA BRACED FRAMED TUBE SYSTEM

MULTIPLE TUBE SYSTEMS

MULTIPLE TUBE SYSTEMS
CONSIST OF MULTIPLE TUBES
ACTING TOGETHER TO A VERY
STIFF STRUCURE

MULTIPLE TUBE SYSTEMS

TYPES OF MULTIPLE TUBE
SYSTEMS :
1. TUBE IN TUBE SYSTEMS
2. BUNDLED TUBE SYSTEMS

3. Multiple Tube Systems :

(i). Tube in Tube Systems :
Has external framing Tube acting
together with
Interior Shear Core to increase
stiffness.

TUBE IN TUBE SYSTEMS

(EXAMPLE)
Example : One Shell Plaza Building in
Houston, USA
A 52 Storeyed Bldg with High
Strength lLght Weight Concrete.
The Bldg has Closely Spaced Cols
along the external periphery with
Central Shear Core enclosing
central service core.

COLUMNS AT
CLOSE
INTERNALS TO
PERFORM AS
EXTERNAL
TUBE

DEEP STIFF
BEAMS TO
STIFFEN
CLOSELY
SPACED
COLUMNS

SHEAR WALLS IN
SERVICE CORE
TO PERFORM AS
INTERNAL TUBE

TUBE IN TUBE SCHEMATIC ARRANGEMENT : A TUBE IN

TUBE SYSTEM HAS AN EXTERNAL TUBE AND AN INTERNAL
TUBE TO PROVIDE STIFFNESS

CORE SHEAR
WALL TUBE

EXTERIOR
FRAMED TUBE

SCEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF TUBE IN TUBE

SYSTEM ISOMETRIC VIEW

24 WIDE X 39 DEEP SPANDREL

AVG. COLUMN 33X26
BEAMS

24 COMPOSITE
TRUSS 2 METAL DECK ,
4 CONCRETE

SHEAR WALLS

STEEL
FLOORS
LINK BEAM 39
DEEP BY 20 WIDE
PERIMETER SHEAR WALL AVG.
THICKNESS 18

FRAMED TUBE

2 4 COMPOSITE TRUSS, 2
METAL DECK 4 INCHES
CONCRETE

FIRST CANADIAN CENTRE, CALGARY, CANADA 64

FIRST CANADIAN
CENTRE, CALGARY,
CANADA
64 STOREYED TUBE IN
TUBE SYSTEM :
FRONT VIEW

Multiple Tube Systems (contd.) :

(ii). Bundled Tube Systems :
Consist of a number of vertical
Tublar elements bundled (fitted)
together and sharing common side
frames.
Bundling increases lateral stiffness
and stability of the building.
Tubes may be terminated along
height at various levels of the
buildings.

BUNDLED TUBE SYSTEMS

CONSIST OF A NO OF TUBES
BUNDLED TOGETHER TO
INCREASE STIFFNES S OF THE
TUBE SYSTEM
TUBES MAY BE TERMINATED
ALONG HEIGHT

110 STOREYED SEARS

TOWERS BUILDING,
CHICAGO, USA.
BUNDLED TUBE SYSTEM.
FRONT VIEW

110 STOREYED SEARS TOWERS

BLDG, CHICAGO, USA .
BUNDLED TUBE FRAMING SYSTEM.

ZONE
ZONE 4

ZONE
4

ZONE
3

91 TO 110
67 TO 90

75
ZONE 2

ZONE 1

FLOORS 1 TO 50
MULTIPLE OR
BUNDLED TUBE

ZONE
1

51 TO 66

ZONE 2

110STOREYED SEARS TOWERS BLDG., CHICAGO, USA.

BUNDLED TUBE SYSTEM

110

90

66
50

SEARS TOWER, CHICAGO, USA

BUNDLED TUBE SYSTEM
PLAN SHAPES

110 STOREYED SEARS TOWERS BLDG,CHICAGO,USA .

ZONE 3

ZONE 4

110 STOREYED SEARS TOERS BLDG , CHICAGO, USA :

FRAMING PLANS AT ZONE 3 AND ZONE 4

STEEL
DECK

LIGHTWEIGHT
CONCRETE SLAB

STEEL COL.
(INT)

1040 mm

STEEL COL.
(EXT.)

STEEL TRUSS 22.9 M SPAN AT 1.6 M

C/C

FALSE
CEILING

22900mm (75-0)

110 STOREYED SEARS TOWERS, CHICAGO, USA FLOOR

SYSTEM : STEEL DECK ROOF- CONC. COMPOSITE FLOOR
SYSTEM (SCHEMATIC)

TUBE SYSTEMS SOME LIVE EXAMPLES :

1. 40 storeyed De Witt Apartment Bldg. USA
:
A Framed Tube Bldg.
2. John Hancock Tower : 100 storeyed
Framed Tube System.
3. World Trade Centre (1972), (Since
collapsed in a terrorists attack) : 110
storeyed, 419 m high Framed Tube
building.
4. Sears Towers(1974) : 110 storeyed, 443 m
high building with Bundled Tube system.

Sears Towers, Chicago, USA (1974) :

Architects : Skidmore Owings & Merill

Struct. Engrs : F.R. KHAN
No of storeyes : 110 + 3 Basements
Ht (from street to roof) : 443 m
Bldg. Use : Office
Frame Material : Structural Steel
Typical Floor Live Load : 2.5 KN/m 2
Basic Wind Speed : 34 m/sec.; 100 yrs
return period.
Max. lateral deflection = H/550

Sears Towers, Chicago (contd.) :

Structural System : Bundled Framed Tube

Foundation Type : 18 m deep cassions
Typical Floor :
storey ht. = 3.92 m
Steel Trusses span = 22.9 m (75 feet).
Steel Trusses depth = 1016 mm (40)
Steel Trusses spacing : 4.6 m (15)
Floor slab : 63 mm thick RCC slab with
light wt conc . On 76 mm steel
trough, (composite
construction).
Co

lumns :

Sears Towers, Chicago (contd.) :

Columns :
Size at ground floor : 990 X 610 mm built up
Steel columns.
Spacing : 4.6 m
Material : Steel grade 350
Total Office Space : 362,000 m 2 in 109 storeyes.
Max. column free space = 22.9m X 22.9m
The structure acts as a Vertical Cantilever
Total qty of structural steel used = 69000 Tonnes.

Bundled Tube System of Sears Towers

Nine square Tubes, each 22.9x22.9 m

in plan, are bundled together to
create the larger overall Tube.
Each Tube consists of cols. At 4.6m
centers connected by stiff beams.
22.9 m square floor areas of each
Tube is framed by one way, 1020 mm
deep flat steel trusses spanning
22.9 m at 4.6 m centers.
Spaces between diagonal truss
members is utilised for passage of

USA(1972) :
(Demolished during terrorist
attack)

No. of storeyes : 110

Ht from street to roof : 411.5m
Bldg use : Office, commercial
Frame material : Steel
Structural system : Framed Tube
with core
columns
for lifts

WORLD
TRADE
CENTRE,
NEW YORK,
USA
110
STOREYED
FRAMED
TUBE
SYSTEM

CORE COLUMNS

110 STOREYED WORLD TRADE CENTRE, NEW YORK, USA

FRAMED TUBE SYSTEM,

CONCRETE

TELEPHONE AND
POWER OUTLETS

FLOOR TILES

CORRUGATED
STEEL SHHETS
TRUSS
COVERING
UTILITY DUCTS:
TELEPHONE AND
POWER

HEATING, VENTILATING AND

AIR CONDITIONING DUCT

WORLD TRADE SYSTEM FLOOR SYSTEM; FLAT STEEL

ROOF TRUSSES WITH RCC SLAB FLOORS WITH
CORROGATED SHEET COVERING

WORLD TRADE CENTRE

(contd).
Truss Span : 10.63 to 18.3 m
Truss spacing : 1.01 m
Truss depth : 815 mm
Column spacing : 1.01 m c/c
Total Floor Area : 418,000 sqm
Total Qty of steel used : 2,00,000 Tonnes
Total Qty of conc. Used : 3,54,000 cum
Total occupancy : 50,000
Total Cost : 650 million dollars

World Trade Centre, New York, USA (contd).

External Tube and Core :

Structural system consists of 240
external wall cols,
Spaced at 1.01 m c/c. tied by 1.34 m
deep beams at each floor to form
Virendeel Truss. Structure forms a
63.5 m square Tube, with internal
columns only at central lift core.

World Trade Centre (Contd).

Each floor had about one Acre

of column free space.

Add text

Add text

World Trade Centre, New York, USA (contd).

Floor System :
consists of 100 mm thick RCC slab over steel deck
resting on flat steel trusses, 815 mm deep, and
spanning from 10.63m to 18.3m, and spaced at 1.01
m centres.
Cavity between the trusses is used to accommodate
the A/C ducts and other service pipes.
DAMPERS : 10000 dampers installed to dampen
movements due to wind.

CONCRETE

TELEPHONE AND
POWER OUTLETS

FLOOR TILES

CORRUGATED
STEEL SHHETS
TRUSS
COVERING
UTILITY DUCTS:
TELEPHONE AND
POWER

HEATING, VENTILATING AND

AIR CONDITIONING DUCT

WORLD TRADE SYSTEM FLOOR SYSTEM; FLAT STEEL

ROOF TRUSSES WITH RCC SLAB FLOORS WITH
CORROGATED SHEET COVERING

ULTRA HIGH RISE

BUILDINGS

THE DANGER AHEAD

WORLD TRADE
CENTRE BLDG
IN FIRE AFTER
TERRORIST
ATTACK

WORLD TRADE CENTRE IN FIRE AFTER TERRORIST

ATTACK A CLOSER VIEW

WORLD
TRADE
CENTRE IN
FIRE AFTER
TERRORIST
ATTACK A
CLOSER VIEW.

SOME TALL BLDGS OF

FUTURE :
1. MIGLIN BEITLER TOWER, CHICAGO, USA :
141 storeyes, 610 m Height
2. SHIMZU SUPER HIGHRISE BUILDING, TOKYO, :
121 storeyes, 550 m Height.
3. The TOKYO MILLENIUM TOWER : 840 m Height
4. BIONIC TOWER, HONG KONG : 1128m Height,

ULTRA HIGH
RISE
BUILDINGS
IT IS NOT THE
END

THANK YOU