Design and Analysis of a Slanted Cable-stayed Building

Abstract: The Tubed Mega Frame (TMF) is a structural system for high-rise building developed by Tyréns AB. Compared to conventional structural systems, the TMF is a coreless system that transfers the loads through the perimeter of the building instead and in turn enables ability to support new architectural shapes and forms of buildings. This thesis covers an initial study of a high-rise building with an unconventional shape implementing the TMF system, the Cable-stayed Building, which consists of a slanted tower with a cable-supported cantilever. The study of the building was divided in to a geometrical study and a cable study. The geometrical study was carried out to gain an initial understanding of the global structural behavior by altering specific geometrical parameters. The cable efficiency in terms of total vertical forces was investigated in the cable study by comparing different cable arrangements, cable diameters and prestressing forces for a fixed global geometry. The studies were performed under linear and nonlinear static conditions using the finite element software SAP2000 and ETABS. The results from the geometrical study showed that the cable efficiency increases in terms of larger vertical cable forces with a less inclined building and longer cantilever length. In addition, the results showed significant effects of geometric nonlinearities considering P-delta for different geometric cases. Furthermore, a study of the axial forces in the mega columns indicated that the most inclined building in which no uplifting forces and barely any tension occur along the mega columns, is the 7° incline with cantilever length 73.4 m. As abovementioned, the efficiency of the cables was compared for different arrangements, cable diameter and prestressing forces. The results indicated that as the prestressing force increases, the efficiency of cables rises more for smaller cable diameter than for larger. Furthermore, the comparison of fan- and harp-shape cable arrangements showed that the latter, including three pairs of cables, gives the highest cable efficiency relative to the amount of steel required of the cantilever bracing system. Nevertheless, the study indicates that the cable forces are inherently dependent on many parameters, such as the sag effect considered in the modulus of elasticity and the stress inducing temperature, which in turn depends on cable diameter, prestressing force and cable arrangement. To conclude the study, a modal analysis showed that the Cable-stayed Building is classified as a stiff building according to the guidelines from Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Further research on the structure could be carried out within different areas, as this thesis is only an initial study of the structure. For instance, material nonlinearities, dynamic responses of the building as well as soil structure interaction, should be investigated further.