Structural feasibility of the Rotating Tower Dubai

Structural feasibility of the Rotating Tower Dubai

Den Besten, P.

Nijsse, R. (mentor)
Braam, C.R. (mentor)
Terwel, K.C. (mentor)
Bos, M.J. (mentor)

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Design and Construction

Structural and Building Engineering

2011-06-14

The main objective of this graduation project was designing a feasible load bearing structure for the Rotating Tower, within the set boundary conditions given by the architectural design. The concept “Rotating Tower” is developed by the Italian architect David Fisher. The main idea behind this concept is: the building of the future. Mr. Fisher translated this idea into the design of the Rotating Tower: a tower with separate rotating floors. The tower consists of multiple (non-circular) floors that can rotate independent around a common axis. Since all floors rotate independent, the building can (theoretically) transform into every shape imaginable. The original design of the Rotating Tower (designed for target city Dubai) has a height of approximately 435 meter. To get a more detailed view of previous designed load bearing structures 3 reference project with comparable height were analysed. Different load cases were analysed and used in the calculation for the structure: dead load, live load, wind load and earthquake load. In this analysis local conditions for Dubai are taken into account. The current design of the stabilizing core for the Rotating Tower does not meet any of the requirements given in the codes. Therefore different solutions for stiffening and strengthening the structure were investigated. Most striking solutions are: higher concrete grade, thicker core, activating steel structure of the storeys and active systems. With the results of the optimization analysis 5 different feasible designs were made for the stability structure of the Rotating Tower. All these designs have one or more adaptations from the architects design. 3 of the 5 alternative designs are considered to be the most relevant for the project and are presented as “final designs”. These 3 final designs are worked out to a more detailed level. The main conclusion of this thesis report covers the structural feasibility of the project. For several designs it is shown that the project is feasible from a structural point of view but not without adapting the architectural design. All alternatives contain one or more adaptations to the architectural design, but keep the main concept of the project unchanged.

Rotating Tower
Feasibility
Dubai
Structural design
Concrete core

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:6e366f3b-fbf8-48c4-aba5-9daa150ba961

2013-06-14

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2011 Den Besten, P.