Earthquake Response Analysis of Multiple Towers on a Common Podium: A Representative Case Study

In this study, a hypothetical tall building structure consisting of two towers and a common podium is analyzed considering effects of interaction between the towers due to connected podium floors. Interaction effects on the podium level are included in the analyses by embracing either an upper bound or lower bound approach, assigning fixed or free end restraints at the continuous boundaries of single tower models, respectively. Response of single tower models are then compared with the response obtained from combined model which includes both of the towers as well as the common podium and basements. Obtained results indicate that, in both linear and nonlinear analyses, single tower models with fixed end restraints overestimate internal forces at the podium floors, although to a reasonable extent.