Optimal parameters for tall buildings with a single viscously damped outrigger considering earthquake and wind loads

Abstract

Tall buildings suffer from low inherent damping and high flexibility. Therefore, a core‐outrigger system is often used to stiffen such buildings. A modified form, known as the damped outrigger system, wherein vertically oriented dampers are installed between outriggers and perimeter columns, has been recently developed to supplement the damping. This paper studies the efficacy of a viscously damped outrigger system through dynamic analysis of a 60‐story tall building subjected to nonconcurrent earthquake and wind excitations. Two ground motion sets (100 accelerograms) are used for the former and wind tunnel test data for the latter. Effects of three building parameters, namely, (i) the core‐to‐column stiffness ratio, (ii) the outrigger location, and (iii) the damper size, on the dynamic characteristics and seismic and wind responses are evaluated. Effects of damper nonlinearity on seismic and wind responses are also investigated considering energy‐equivalent nonlinear viscous dampers. Finally, the optimum values of these parameters are determined. For example, the optimum outrigger location is found to be between 0.6H to 0.9H , where H is the height of the building. The results also show that the damped outrigger system significantly outperforms the conventional one for seismic excitation, and it is very effective in reducing the wind‐induced floor accelerations, provided the parameters are chosen appropriately.