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Structural Revolution: How can a 'tubular system' stop a supertall building from shaking?"
In today's busy cities, skyscrapers that soar into the sky are no longer a luxury, but a representative of modern architecture. However, how can these super-tall buildings be kept as stable as a rock in the face of strong winds and vibrations? This is the charm of the "tubular system". This innovative structural design has revolutionized the way skyscrapers are built, allowing solidity and elegance to coexist.
The tubular system is designed as a hollow cantilever structure to resist lateral loads. This innovation allows the supertall building to stand proudly above all things.
Basic concepts of tubular systems
The core idea of the tubular system is that a building can resist lateral loads by designing the tubular structure as a cantilever. The structure was first introduced by Pakistani engineer Fazlur Rehaman Khan in the 1960s, who designed the first such building in Chicago, the DeWitt-Chester Apartment Building. The system usually consists of dense perimeter columns and deep beams, which are connected to each other by hinges to form a strong structural frame.
In this structure, the outer columns are relatively dense, while only a few core columns are needed inside. This design not only maximizes the available space, but also effectively transfers the gravity load inside the structure to the peripheral piping system, thereby enhancing its ability to resist lateral loads.
History of Tubular Systems
In 1963, a new structural system appeared in the design of skyscrapers, namely the frame tubular structure. This innovative design concept not only changes the shape of the building, but also significantly improves its structural performance, making it able to resist lateral loads from wind, earthquakes, etc. Khan's design was inspired by his hometown in Dhaka, where the bamboo structures gave him a lot of inspiration.
Khan once said that constructing a high-rise building is like building a durable vertical bamboo in the city.
Variations of Tubular Systems
As architectural needs continue to evolve, tubular systems are also changing to accommodate different structural requirements. For example, tubular frames, tubular trusses, and shell and core designs are widely used in modern architecture. Each design has its own unique features and benefits, and is adapted to the specific use of the space and architectural style.
For example, trussed tubular structures utilize fewer and widely spaced exterior columns, with steel-supported trusses or concrete shear walls to compensate for the main structure, allowing the structure to withstand greater lateral loads. Famous buildings such as the John Hancock Center and the Bank of China Tower use this design.
The future of structure
As construction technology develops, the innovative application prospects of tubular systems become more and more extensive. Today, architects are not only seeking structural stability and safety, but also more flexible design space. The flexibility of the tubular system allows architectural design to break free from traditional constraints, creating more diverse and artistic skyscrapers.
With this system, buildings are no longer cold boxes, but can become sculptures, making the city's skyline full of vitality and creativity.
Through continuous improvement and customized structural design, future skyscrapers will be more environmentally friendly, multifunctional, and embedded with more technological elements. All of this makes us wonder: what other architectural wonders can we expect in the cities of the future?
