Exploring multi-hazard effects on a tall building and its non-structural elements through simultaneous earthquake and wind loading

• Published in: Journal of Building Engineering Vol. 91; p. 109489
• Main Authors: Rizzo, Fabio, Caracoglia, Luca, Maddaloni, Giuseppe, Sabbà, Maria Francesca, Foti, Dora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.08.2024
• Subjects: Aeroelasticity; Multi-hazard analysis and experiments; Shaking table tests; Wind tunnel experiments; Multi-hazard analysis and experiments; Shaking table tests; Aeroelasticity; Wind tunnel experiments
• ISSN: 2352-7102; 2352-7102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109489

The tall building construction sector has recently exhibited an increasing development, especially in Europe. This activity is aligned with European policies regarding soil conservation and social housing. Due to their slenderness, such structures are particularly sensitive to wind and earthquake loads. Nevertheless, current building codes, standards, and most scientific literature neglect the interaction of these events as simultaneity has always been considered a rare design case due to the limited effect on the structural elements. The present work carries out a careful statistical investigation on the occurrence of strong earthquakes accompanied by a wind load event, characterized by non-negligible daily mean-wind velocities in Italy, where more than one-third of its area is occupied by high mountains, limiting the urban development to confined zones. Subsequently, the effect of the simultaneous occurrence of earthquake and wind loads has been studied, both from the numerical and experimental points of view (i.e., shaking table and wind tunnel tests) to evaluate the consequences on structural and non-structural elements (e.g., façades) of a building case study. Results show that the cumulative effect of typical and non-catastrophic daily mean wind velocity (i.e., in the range of 5–10 m/s at 10 m from the ground) and a typical and non-catastrophic seismic daily shock (i.e., with magnitude in the range of 3–5), can trigger large inter-story drift ratio values and fatigue, causing damage to non-structural elements - like façades - and consequently a risk for occupants and high economic losses. •The number of tall buildings is set to increase to reduce soil usage and increase social housing.•Seismic events occur day by day in several European countries accompanied by a non-negligible mean daily wind velocity.•The tall building flexibility induces significant inter-story drift due to the lateral dynamic loads.•Since design codes do not consider simultaneous load combination for both seismic and wind loads, combined effects are unknown.