Client Consultant Contractor

Basis of Design Report-00

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1. Executive Summary

This report provides a narrative description of structural design criteria and philosophy that
accommodate the Owner’s requirements during the design and construction stages of Spin City
Center project in Madenty City. This narrative report will focus on Plot A3 which consists of two
towers of 82 m height.

2. Design Philosophy and Criteria

Structural design aims basically to accommodate architectural requirements in a way to achieve
economic and safe design. Site topographic and geological conditions and material sustainability
should also be taken into consideration. The structure shall be designed to meet serviceability code
limits such as deflection and crack control.
All expected load combinations including dead, live, and site-specific seismic and wind loads will be
considered in accordance with Egyptian and applicable international codes.

3. Structural system
The structural system of the super structure must be chosen to meet both the Owner’s and
architectural requirements. The building shall be stiff enough to sustain both the vertical and the
lateral loads and satisfy the human comfort requirements. The structure shall afford optimized
sections to reduce the cost and to improve coordination with other disciplines.

3.1 Super structure

3.1.1 Lateral Load Resisting Systems

There are two towers of height 82 m in Plot A3 in Spine City project. The applicable structural
systems for these towers are as described below. The selection of most suitable system will depend
mainly on architectural layout and cost in addition to structural design.
a- Rigid frame system

Rigid frame systems, also called moment frame systems, are used in steel and reinforced
concrete buildings and consist of beams and columns. A rigid frame is an unbraced frame
that is capable of resisting both vertical and lateral loads by the bending of beams and
columns. Concrete or steel rigid frames may be used

Rigid frame systems

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Basis of Design Report-00
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b- Core system

Core systems are used in reinforced concrete buildings. This system consists of a reinforced
concrete core shear wall resisting all the vertical and lateral loads.
In general, a core wall is an open core that is converted into a partially closed core by using
floor beams and/or slabs so as to increase the lateral and torsional stiffness of the building.
Although the behavior of closed cores is ideal against building torsion under lateral loads, a
partially closed core is used to approximate this for architectural reasons.
Thus, a partially closed core is produced by supporting the open part of the core with
beams and/or slabs having satisfactory strength against shear and bending.

Shear wall system

Shear wall systems are used in reinforced concrete buildings. This system consists of
reinforced concrete shear walls, which can be perforated (with openings) or solid.
Shear wall systems can be thought of as a vertical cantilever rigidly fixed at the base,
and can resist all vertical and lateral loads on a building without columns.
Shear wall systems efficiently and economically provide sufficient stiffness to resist wind
and earthquake induced lateral loads in buildings of up to about 35 stories

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Basis of Design Report-00
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3.1.2 Lateral system

a- Flat slab system

Flat slab system consists of beamless floor slabs of constant thickness and columns.
Shear walls also can be placed in addition to or instead of the columns.
Column capitals or gussets can be placed on the upper ends of columns to reduce the
punching effect created by shear forces in the connections between columns and slabs.
Attaining the net floor height, is a major architectural advantage of this system in addition
to easy formwork and constructability. Limited spans and high reinforcement ration are
major disadvantages.

b- Post tension slab system

Post-tensioned slab is a concrete slab that is tensioned with a pre-stressing process to

achieve large spans with small thickness and reinforcement ratio. Advantages also
include consider able saving in construction time and overall building cost. However,

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Basis of Design Report-00
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this system requires skillful professionals and specialized construction companies in

addition to limitation in slab modification.

3.2 Foundation System

In this type of high-rise buildings, foundation system is vital design and construction issue.
Comprehensive geotechnical and geophysical studies shall be planned and carried out. Site specific
seismic study is also essential. Large diameter (> 600 mm) bored piles are usually used to support
the building. The system shall ensure the integrity of the super structure as it must afford a reliable
load transition between the super structure and the soil beneath. Ultimate strength, service, and
stability limits shall be checked for the foundation system. Special attention shall be given to the
existence of ground water while choosing and designing the structural system. The existence of
problematic soil (such as expansive and collapsible soils) shall carefully investigate.

4. Structural Materials and Sustainability

4.1 Concrete
Reinforced concrete of high compressive strength of about 50 MPa is used in floor slabs and lateral
loads resisting system. However, while an essential structural material, the production of Portland
cement contributes to considerable amount annual carbon dioxide emissions. Hence, utilizing
optimum concrete section is an essential cost and sustainability issue. Reducing the amount of
cement by additives may also help in this context.
4.2 Steel
Normal steel 37 (fy = 240 MPa) or high tensile steel (fy = 360 MPa) may mainly be used in
structural vertical elements (frames). It may also be used in limited floor areas and canopies.
Under the LEED system, structural steel receives maximum credit for its contribution to the overall
rating for a structure, due in large part to its recycled content and recycling rate. It is the most
recycled material used in modern building construction. At the end of a building’s life, 98% of all
structural steel is recycled back into new steel products with no loss of its physical properties.

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Basis of Design Report-00
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4.3 Masonry
The use of concrete masonry provides many sustainable benefits throughout the structure’s life.
With sustainable features apparent from the start, many concrete masonry materials can be recycled
for other projects into new masonry materials or aggregates.
Unlike light framed construction, masonry remains warm or cool long after the heating or cooling
system has shut off, reducing loads and moderating indoor temperature fluctuation throughout the
year. Where feasible, a structural engineer can specify lightweight or aerated concrete masonry units
to decrease resource depletion, reduce transportation energy impact, and increase concrete unit
masonry wall insulation values.

5. Conclusion
Owner’s and architectural requirements are main objectives to be followed in structural design.
Sound technical methodologies in addition to cost saving and environmental and sustainability
concerns shall be implemented the design as described in this report.

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