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Most structures require a lateral load-carrying system alongside a gravity system to properly carry horizontal loads, caused by wind and seismic activities, down to the foundation. Lateral systems also increase the stiffness of the building, reducing deflections and improving serviceability. For my masters thesis at MIT, I analyzed different forms of lateral systems for mid to high-rise buildings, and compared their efficiencies.
Three forms of lateral systems are commonly used in the design of buildings – moment frames, braced frames and concrete shear walls. Moment frames are a viable solution for low-rise to mid-rise buildings. However, for taller structures, the amount of materials needed to properly provide lateral stability using moment frames increases exponentially. Braced frames and concrete shear walls on the other hand are common choices as lateral systems for taller buildings. The choice of a lateral system is often governed by architectural decisions, finance, availability of material and contractors’ expertise with a given building method. However due to so many interlocked parameters, lateral systems in buildings are often not fully optimal. There is a large potential to push the frontier of lateral design in buildings, and innovate a design method that is both efficient and practical.
Here is a quick comparison of steel moment frames with steel braced connections for a mid-rise building for (3) different parameters: i) weight, ii) cost and iii) embodied carbon. The last graph represents the combined cost function of each of these parameters. If interested, feel free to download and read my full thesis included below.
Nablul Haseeb - CEE Meng Thesis (pdf)
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