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In modern skyscraper architecture, the preference for incorporating tapered building configurations is on the rise, constituting a prominent trend in the industry, particularly due to their structural and aerodynamic benefits. The efficient utilization of space is a critical consideration in the design of tapered skyscrapers, holding significant importance for sustainability. Nevertheless, the existing body of scholarly work falls short in providing an all-encompassing investigation into the space efficiency of super-tall towers featuring tapered configurations, despite their prevalent adoption. This research endeavors to rectify this notable void by undertaking an exhaustive examination of data derived from 40 case studies. The key findings are as follows: (1) average space efficiency was about 72%, with values fluctuating between a minimum of 55% and a maximum of 84%; (2) average ratio of core area to the gross floor area (GFA) registered about 26%, encompassing a spectrum ranging from 11% to 38%; (3) most tapered skyscrapers employed a central core design, primarily tailored for mixed-use purposes; (4) an outriggered frame system was the prevailing structural system, while composite materials were the most commonly used structural materials; and (5) significant differences in the influence of function and load-bearing systems on the space efficiency of tapered towers were not observed. The author anticipates that these results will offer valuable direction, particularly to architectural designers, as they work towards advancing the sustainable development of tapered skyscrapers.

Summary The dynamic characterization of structures is essential for assessing their response when subjected to dynamic loads in structural health monitoring. It mainly comprises the modal parameters, that is, the natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes. These modal properties are attracting more attention when structures are under construction or operation for the researchers, structure owner and engineers. This paper presents the work on the operational modal analysis of a super tall building‐the Shanghai Tower with a height of 632 m situated in Shanghai, China. A recently developed fast Bayesian method is utilized to perform modal identification, providing an effective means to identify the modal properties and assess their accuracy. In this study, ambient vibration tests are implemented in different construction stages. The corresponding modal properties and their associated uncertainties are identified and investigated, with interesting trends observed. Finite element models are also established to obtain the modal parameters in different stages and compared with the identified results. After the main structure is completed, a field test covering the eight corners of the core wall in a typical floor is performed to investigate the mode shapes. Afterward, a 12‐h measurement is performed with the information of temperature and humidity recorded simultaneously. The variation of modal properties with changing environment is studied. The results obtained will be beneficial for understanding the modal properties of this super tall building and provide a baseline for future structural health monitoring. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A number of disastrous incidents have indicated that extreme fires can act as a trigger event to initiate the progressive collapse of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Hence, research on progressive collapse risks of RC structures under extreme fires is most important. However, limited studies have been undertaken in the fire-induced progressive collapse of tall and super-tall RC buildings. Hence, a high-performance finite element model was developed for this study to simulate the mechanical behavior of RC members in fire-induced progressive collapse. Fiber beam and multi-layer shell elements were used, in conjunction with appropriate material constitutive laws and elemental failure criteria under high temperature conditions. Extreme fire scenarios were also considered, based on the actual fire-induced progressive collapse events of the WTC towers and the Windsor Tower. The simulation results indicated that a progressive collapse of a super-tall building was triggered by the flexural failure of the peripheral columns, approximately 7 h after being exposed to fire. The bending deformations of the peripheral columns increased significantly, due to the outward thermal expansion of the upper floors and the inward contraction of the lower floors, a result of the fire-induced damage. The results also revealed that, when multiple stories are subjected to fire, the internal forces in the components are redistributed in the horizontal and vertical directions by way of the Vierendeel truss mechanism, leading to a maximum increase (of approximately 100%) of the axial forces in the columns. The present work identified the mechanisms of the fire-induced progressive collapse of a typical RC super-tall building, and provided an effective analysis framework for further research on the fire safety of tall and super-tall RC buildings.