Effects of a Construction Tower Crane on the Wind Loading of a High-Rise Building

Abstract

High-rise construction projects commonly use a tower crane attached to the building by braced connections along its height. The presence of the tower crane modifies the aerodynamic cross section of the building and can alter the expected wind loading characteristics. Wind tunnel tests were carried out to examine the impact of the solidity ratio, and location of the tower crane, on the wind loading for the overall building-crane system. Tower cranes of two solidity ratios, 20 and 100%, were tested. A tower crane having one of the two solidity ratios tested was placed at one of three locations along the building face in order to define a quantitative range of increased wind loads. Increases in mean and fluctuating loading were observed for particular wind directions, and were more pronounced for the greater solidity ratio. The increase was the most significant for the torsion base moment. The impact of the tower crane was reduced as its location neared the center of the building face. Recommendations are made for the choice of tower crane location.