Tall buildings have become a landmark in the skyline of modern cities worldwide, so that they currently represent an essential example of integrated design.  This type of design is a process in which architectural concept, structural design and plants and systems design synergically interact. A multi-disciplinary and integrated approach to the design process is one of the most important goals informing the research activity carried out in the ABC Department and should be reflected in its educational programs. In this framework, this structural engineering course can provide doctoral students with basic tools and the theoretical knowledge that would enable them to analyse more and more challenging and complex architectural solutions, finding solutions for the design of highly refined and complex structural systems. The proposed course will review and discuss in detail the main topics regarding the design, analysis and construction of the structural systems that provide capacity, stability and functionality to tall buildings. Different sections of the course will focus on the different structural elements: in particular, the specific issues regarding foundations systems, vertical elements, shear resisting elements, floor slabs and special elements (in particular facades and curtain walls) will be discussed in each section.  Moreover, so-called hybrid systems will be analysed in detail: these structural systems are made of two different structural materials, usually reinforced concrete and steel, and develop peculiar interaction effects due to their different rheological features. Finally, the methods for the analysis of the global structural system will be discussed.

Tentative program:

1. Tall buildings: historical overview and development, with a focus on the evolution of the mechanical properties of construction materials and the advancements in construction technology.
2. Foundation systems: direct, deep, mixed. Geometry, construction systems, constructability issues.
3. Vertical elements: r.c., steel and composite (r.c.-steel) columns. Basic of design, peculiar issues: inclined columns, spatial systems, columns with abrupt section changes.
4. Shear resisting elements: cores, coupled shear walls, outrigger systems, tube in tube systems.
5. Floor slabs: r.c. slabs, p.c. slabs, composite steel-concrete slabs. Overview of precast and semi-precast floor systems. Analysis: beam and slab behaviour. Design for deformation control.
6. Hybrid systems: peculiar features, steel and concrete restraining structures and restrained structures, interactions between outriggers and columns and slabs. Optimization of the global system.
7. Facades and curtain walls systems: features, tolerances, interaction with structural elements, compatibility of deformations.

Global properties: analysis methods and experimental validation

The students will be evaluated by assigning homework, tentatively three assignments, on specific themes during the Course. The students will turn in the different assignments as required and collected and marked by the Teacher to provide the initial evaluation of the students prior to the final exam. The final exam, in oral form, will then be evaluated and the final score will be assigned, by averaging the score of the oral exam and that of the assignments.