SHANGHAI TOWER, CHINA

Advanced Building Technology | S09

Sarath Syam | Nihara Shailesh | Jabin Abdul
Jabbar
SHANGHAI TOWER
Location : Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai , China
Building Height : 632 m
No of storeyes : 128
Achitect : Gensler
Year of completion : 2016
Time of construction : 10 years
Typology : Mixed- use
Cost of construction : 2.4 Billion USD

Shanghai Tower is the new symbol of Shanghai—a gateway to China and Asia. The 128-story tower speaks to Shanghai’s place in the
world order and to its transformation as a global metropolis. Yet its impact extends beyond its role as an icon for a global financial
capital. Shanghai Tower’s location in China, the leader in construction of supertall buildings, places it at the center of discussions
about the future of cities.

Shanghai Tower is the most forward-looking of the three towers that anchor the Lujiazui commercial district. Designed by a local
team to embody the city’s rich culture, the 632-meter-high (2,073 feet) mixed-use building completes the super highrise precinct
that includes the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. Shanghai Tower’s rounded triangular footprint is derived
from its relationship to the two towers. It’s also a response to the bend in the nearby Huangpu River.
Form and Function
During the design process, the architects anticipated that three key strategies— the
tower’s asymmetrical form, its tapering profile and its rounded corners—would allow
the building to withstand typhoon-force winds that are common in Shanghai. Using
wind tunnel tests, the architects and structural engineers refined the tower’s form,
examining its proportions and studying the optimum rotation for deflecting the wind.
The ultimate solution, which reduced building wind loads by 24 percent, resulted in a
lighter structure that saved $58 million in costly materials.

Structural Features
The tower highlights technologies that raise the bar for the next generation of super
highrise buildings. Shanghai Tower’s structural design responds to many challenges
presented by its location: a windy climate, an active earthquake zone and clay-based soils. The heart of the structural system is a
concrete core. The core acts in concert with a system of steel outriggers and supercolumns, with double-belt trusses that support
the base of each vertical neighborhood. The refuge and mechanical floors that extend outward at the base of each zone mark the
divisions of the building.

Foundation Type
The site of the Shanghai Tower is built on soft, silty clay, typical for areas near rivers and coastal zones. This necessitated the
use of deep foundations and piles to prevent settlement or tilting, ensuring the building remains stable and secure over time.

Mat foundation:
The Shanghai Tower has a deep, reinforced concrete foundation designed to support the massive load of the structure. It is a mat
foundation (also known as a raft foundation), which means the base is a thick concrete slab that spreads the building’s weight
over a large area. This type of foundation is suitable for buildings with a high load-bearing requirement, especially on soft soil.

Pile foundation:
Underneath the raft foundation, the tower is supported by 1,000 reinforced concrete piles, which reach down to solid
bedrock or stronger layers of soil. The piles were drilled into the ground to a depth of approximately 80-100 meters
(262-328 feet). The piles transfer the weight of the building to more stable geological layers below the surface.
Structual system

Core and Outrigger System :

The tower features a central reinforced concrete core that houses elevators, stairs, and mechanical
systems.The core is surrounded by an outrigger system, which consists of reinforced concrete and steel
beams extending from the core to perimeter columns at various levels. This helps to resist wind and
seismic forces, transferring loads from the exterior to the core and creating a more stable structure.

CORE SYSTEM :
Function: The core is the primary vertical load-bearing element of the tower. It houses key functional
components such as elevators, stairwells, and mechanical services.

Design: The core is made of reinforced concrete and is located in the center of the building, extending
vertically from the foundation to the top.

Purpose: It provides torsional and lateral stability and acts as the spine of the structure, distributing
vertical loads (dead loads, live loads) from the floors and roof to the foundation.

OUTRIGGER SYSTEM:
Function: The outrigger system is designed to enhance the lateral stiffness of the building and help
resist forces caused by wind or earthquakes.

Structure: At multiple levels of the tower (typically every 10-15 floors), a network of horizontal, reinforced
concrete or steel beams connects the core to the perimeter columns. These horizontal beams, known as
outriggers, help distribute lateral loads from the exterior to the core and the perimeter columns.

Effect: The outriggers create a strong interaction between the core and the building’s perimeter
columns, transferring lateral forces more efficiently. By doing so, they reduce the amount of bending that
occurs in the core, minimizing the overall sway of the tower.

Performance: The system works by acting like a “brace” between the core and the outer columns,
effectively reducing the amount of movement or displacement at the top of the tower during high winds
or seismic activity.

DIAGRID STRUCTURAL SYSTEM:

The diagrid structural system in the Shanghai Tower offers significant benefits in both efficiency and
stability. Its design consists of diagonal steel beams arranged in a triangular grid, which distributes
vertical and lateral loads more effectively than traditional vertical columns, allowing for larger, open
floor plans. This efficient design reduces material usage while providing enhanced stability, as the
interconnected triangles help resist wind forces and minimize sway. The system is particularly effective
in withstanding wind loads, as the diagonal members efficiently transfer pressure across the building’s
surface, reducing vortex shedding and maintaining the tower’s rigidity. Together, the diagrid, combined
with the core and outrigger systems, ensures the tower’s resilience against high wind speeds and
seismic activity while contributing to its sleek, modern aesthetic.
TAPERED FORM : WIND LOAD RESISTANCE:
The tower’s shape gradually tapers as it rises, which not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but The primary purpose of the wind bracing system is to resist the *lateral forces caused by wind*.
also helps in reducing wind forces on the structure. The form allows for better aerodynamics, which The system distributes and absorbs these forces, reducing stress on the building’s core and other
minimizes the impact of wind loads on the building. structural components.

Wind Resistance : ENHANCED STABILITY:

The tapered and twisting shape reduces wind loads by up to 24%, minimizing vortex shedding and the The wind bracing system ensures the building remains stable under high wind conditions.
effects of strong winds, which is especially important in Shanghai’s typhoon-prone region. It minimizes lateral displacement (sway) and prevents structural damage or fatigue over time.

Structural Efficiency : REDUCED VORTEX SHEDDING:

The narrowing profile reduces the amount of structural material needed as the weight and stresses Shanghai Tower’s twisting design, combined with wind bracing, reduces the formation of vortex shedding
decrease toward the top, optimizing the building’s design. (a phenomenon that can cause oscillations in tall buildings).
This ensures that wind forces are dispersed more evenly, reducing vibrations and improving overall
Sustainability: comfort.
The shape contributes to energy efficiency by supporting the *double-curtain wall* system, which
reduces heating and cooling requirements.

WIND BRACING :
Given the height and location of the Shanghai Tower, wind loads are a critical design factor. The
structural system, including the diagrid and outrigger systems, helps in resisting wind forces. The shape
of the tower, with its twisted design, helps reduce the vortex shedding effects and reduces the intensity
of wind forces.