RAIL VIKAS NIGAM LIMITED
KNOWLEDGE ENHANCEMENT
5 METHODS TO INCREASE STRUCTURAL STIFFNESS
Contribution: Karthick.PM Date: 14-05-2022
The improvement of structural stiffness is crucial because the trend of building
construction is toward taller, wider floor, and longer span structures. So, in order
to reduce deflections and improve resistance of such structures against lateral
loads such as wind and seismic, suitable method shall be considered to ensure
satisfactory structural stiffness.
The methods of increasing structural stiffness of tall buildings are by providing
central core, shear walls, tubes, braced frame and double tube. The use of one or
combination of these techniques can increase structural stiffness considerably.
The stiffness of a structure is the ability of a bulding to resist deformation.
Structural stiffness describes the capacity of a structure to resist deformations
induced by applied loads
1. CENTRAL CORE
The stiffness of buildings can be increased substantially through the construction
of central core. Commonly, central core structure used to contain lifts, stairs, and
building services.
Fig. 1: Central Core
2. SHEAR WALLS
Shear wall is a structural member used to resist lateral forces. They are
constructed at opposite ends of a building to provide stiffness in a particular
direction. Shear walls are particularly useful in non-square buildings, where the
wind forces predominantly come from one direction.
The shape and plan position of the shear wall influences the behavior of the
structure considerably. Structurally, the best position for the shear walls is in the
center of each half of the building. This is rarely practical, since it also utilizes
the space a lot, so they are positioned at the ends. It is better to use walls with no
openings in them.
Fig. 2: Shear Walls
3. BRACED FRAME
Braced frame is the simple structure with bracing that help to increase the
structural stiffness. A braced frame is similar to floor bracing, but it does not
depend on the stiffness provided by the floor system, rather on the addition of
another diagonal cross members. Compared to the system with floor bracing, this
system is less easy to construct.
Fig. 3: Braced Frame Structure
4. TUBE SYSTEM
A tube system is essentially two sets of shear walls. The tube system allows the
building to be stiff in all directions of loading. The building would have a high-
torsional resistance. The interior of the building is kept clear.
In the case where making opening in tube system is a must, the openings need to
be as minimum as possible. It acts as hollow cylinder, cantilevered perpendicular
to the ground which enables the structure to resist lateral loads from wind,
seismic, and so on.
Fig. 4: Tube System
5. DOUBLE TUBE SYSTEM
A double tube system is a combination of the central core and tube system as
shown in figure below. This combination of both systems allows the building to
be extremely stiff. The building has high torsional resistance. For the tube
system, apertures for windows must be kept to minimum. The central core takes
much valuable space. This type of system is used for very tall building.
Fig. 5: Double Tube Structural System
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