High-rise buildings continue to be built in increasing numbers throughout the world. However, they quickly become impractically expensive if structural needs are not considered early. Similarly attempting to build an irrational design can waste a lot of money. It has been said that 50% of the cost of the structural frame costs are affected by preliminary design, whereas detailed design (e.g. refinement of reinforcement in a reinforced concrete structure) affects a small percentage only. This book discusses what should be considered at the preliminary design stage of a high-rise. The information can also be used in the checking of designs produced by computer. The focus is on European design practice. The discussion includes the following: the origin of lateral loads; vortex shedding, lateral load resisting systems; effect of wind load on tall buildings; construction tolerances; shear wall layouts; basic acceleration limits; the importance of the P-delta phenomenon. Gravity systems for high-rises are no different to those of low-rise buildings so little time is spent discussing these. Although tall buildings are commonly constructed using steel or composite construction, this book focuses on concrete buildings as they are especially challenging to design. A case study is presented to illustrate the importance of preliminary design of high-rises. The aim is to produce a brief book appropriate for final year students and practioners.

About the Author

Dr. Niall MacAlevey is currently an independent consultant specializing in the analysis and design of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures, forensic engineering and the strengthening of concrete structures. He is the founder of the firm “Shamrock Consultants”, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Singapore. He graduated from University College Dublin, Ireland in 1987, and completed his M.Sc. degree in “Concrete Structures” at Imperial College, London. He completed his Ph.D degree at the Nanyang Technological University in 1997 on “The Strengthening of Concrete Structures” and later joined the academic staff there. He obtained a PGDipTHE (Post-Graduate Diploma in Teaching in Higher Education) from the National Institute of Education in 2001. He has worked for a number of consulting engineering firms and specialist prestressing subcontractors in London, Cambridge, Hong Kong and Singapore.

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