Preliminary Analysis of High-Rise Braced Frames with Facade Riggers

Abstract

In this paper, a simple method of analysis for preliminary analysis of facade rigger stiffened braced frames in tall buildings subjected to horizontal loading is presented. The facade riggers in the structure are located in the exterior frames in the direction of the lateral loading. The interaction between the braced frames and facade riggers is through the floor diaphragms adjacent to the chords of the riggers. The method of analysis requires the calculation of five stiffness parameters: bending and racking shear stiffnesses of the braced frames and facade riggers in addition to a bending stiffness of the exterior frames in which the riggers are located. The method allows a graphical procedure for obtaining the optimum level of the facade riggers in addition to a rapid assessment of the influence of the facade riggers on the performance of the high-rise structure such as the reduction in lateral deflection at the top and the overturning moment at the base of the braced frame.