Innovative Infrastructures - Toward Human Urbanism 1

Tower 114 of the King Abdullah Financial District: Analysis and Design for In-
plane Forces

Spencer ROBINSON Lukasz GRECZKOWSKI Fergus McCORMICK

Associate Senior Engineer Technical Director
formerly Buro Happold Buro Happold Buro Happold
Bath, UK Bath, UK Bath, UK
Spencer Robinson @live.co.uk Lukasz.Greczkowski@BuroHapp Fergus.
old.com McCormick@BuroHappold.com

Summary
This paper looks at the design of Tower 114 of the new Financial District in Riyadh, an exciting
example of the growing trend amongst signature Architects to create ever more daring and dramatic
building structures. The 253m high office tower is positioned at the prestigious heart of the
development and is characterised by complex inclined geometry to the north facade and a dramatic
8m set-back in the south facade at level 06. The geometry of the inclined columns to the north
facade creates massive horizontal in-plane forces in certain floor slabs.

The paper describes a number of structural options considered for resisting such large loads in the
floors. Steel, reinforced concrete and post-tensioned concrete solutions were all considered at the
concept stage. Advanced modelling and detailing techniques were used to help develop a
sophisticated and effective solution to a complex engineering problem which required careful
assessment of in-plane strength, stress and strain across the whole floor and at local nodes. Such a
significant part of the building overall design also required careful examination of potential risks
and consequent assessment of special design measures for robustness. The paper describes that the
final solution adopted was via high strength steel bars within the concrete floors that offered an
effective and robust solution that was easily constructed.

Keywords: Tower, outrigger, architecture, analysis, in-plane, strains, prestressing,

1. Introduction

The 253m high tower is located at the heart of the new King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh
city centre. The tower comprises 53-storey of office accommodation and a 4-storey basement that
integrates the building with the surrounding car park, entertainment, and retail spaces. The main
structural frame comprises reinforced concrete and structural steelwork is used for the outrigger
members, located at the double height plant room at level 30.
The building is characterised by its sculptured form. The key geometric features include the
complex inclined geometry to the north facade and an 8m set back at level 06 of the south elevation
as shown in figure 1.
The north elevation is formed of five intersecting planes, each with a different inclination; one
vertical, two leaning inwards, and two leaning outwards. The two outwards leaning planes occur
between ground floor and level 14. Concrete columns frame the building edges and elevations and
are located to match the architectural planes, thus being located themselves in a series of flat
planes. The organisation of the structure and architecture into simple rectilinear flat, albeit inclined,
façade panels offers a building that was simple to construct and clad.
2 18TH CONGRESS OF IABSE, SEOUL, 2012
Figure1: showing north and south facade geometry
Figure 2: showing source of lateral thrusts at level 14
A ‘primary collector column’ is
located at the inclined crease created
by four intersecting planes on the
North elevation that zigzags the full
height of the north facade. The
incoming ‘secondary’ columns from
each inclined plane were detailed at
6m centres and generally merged with
the primary collector column at the
service floors to limit visual
obstruction to the views looking north
through the fully glazed facade.
The inclined columns are linked by
the concrete floor diaphragm. The
horizontal component of axial load
within and inclined column released
whenever the column inclination
changes. This occurs at level 14
where the inclined north facade
columns are cranked to accommodate
the change from outward to inward
leaning planes of the north facade.
The resultant horizontal tensile or
compressive forces are transferred to
the floor slab at the nodes of the
cranked columns to the north facade.
A similar effect is created in the south
elevation of the building where
inclined columns are used to frame
the 8m set-back in the south facade at
level 06. The columns are inclined
between levels 06 and 14, which
allow the 8m set back to hang from
level 14 using a steel frame.
The inclined concrete columns in this
location support the load from 5-
floors of hanging steelwork and the
gravity load from the 39-floors above
level 14. The massive resultant
horizontal forces are transferred to the
floor slab at level 14, in addition to
those from the north facade, and at
level 06, as illustrated in figure 2.
This paper summarises the key
structural issues arising from the
transfer of massive horizontal in-plane
forces at level 14 and 6 and looks at
the design from the initial options
considered at concept stage through to
the final design, analysis, detailing,
and construction of the preferred
solution.
 Innovative Infrastructures - Toward Human Urbanism 3

2. Key Structural Issues

2.1 Introduction
The load conditions at level 14 presented a very interesting problem and five key issues were
identified, as described in the following sections:
2.2 Asymmetric loading
The level 14 slab is subject to massive in-plane thrusts from the cranked columns to the north and
south facade. The cranked columns to the south facade are inclined orthogonally north-south to the
stability core. The north facade columns are aligned with the various inclined planes of the north
facade and the resulting in-plane thrusts enter the level 14 slab oblique to the stability core. The
north facade columns are all cranked at inward and outward angles above and below the level 14
slab, respectively, which increases the magnitude of the horizontal thrust that accompanies the
change in direction.
The central ‘collector column’ of the north facade has a significantly larger load than all the other
cranked columns as it is used to transfer gravity loads from incoming columns from the intersecting
inclined planes of the north facade. The resulting horizontal thrust component from the collector
column is 25MN.
There is an out-of-balance north-south thrust between the north and south facade columns and the
oblique load path of the north facade columns also creates an east-west component of the in-plane
forces, creating torsion within the stability core.
2.3 Interaction with floor design for vertical loads
The in-plane stresses within the floor arising from the cranked columns needs to be considered
together with the requirements for ordinary gravity loading of the slab. Level 14 of the Tower 114
is the first of several executive floors providing office, meeting, and recreational spaces
2.4 Control of strains and column bending
The in-plane tensile and compressive thrusts create in-plane horizontal strain deformations within
level 14. These need to be controlled under all load conditions to ensure the floor slab performs
within acceptable movement tolerances for the building facade and to limit the parasitic bending
stresses in the cranked columns as they span vertically to adjacent floors above and below level 14.
The secondary in-plane stresses in the adjacent floors above and below level 14, arising from the
cranked column reactions, need to be quantified to ensure these slabs are designed to accordingly.
2.5 Contractor preferences, design integration, and build-ability
The design had to consider the contractor preferences and expertise in material selection and
availability in the Region. The level 14 slab is also located approximately 70m above ground level
and structural components would be lifted into place using tower cranes with controlled lift
capacities and also engaged in many site activities.
The structural design for the level 14 slab had to be compatible with the requirements of a multi-
disciplinary design team. The plant rooms at level 13, and the level 13 mezzanine floor, are very
heavily serviced and required obstruction-free distribution below the slab.
Compatibility with facade and the architectural intent were also key considerations, particularly at
cranked column locations where careful attention was given to the interfaces between the column
thrust connection and the facade connections.
2.6 Fire protection, durability, and robustness
The particular focus of the risk assessment is the level 14 slab and the connecting vertical structure.
The Level 14 slab represents the ‘keystone’ of the building and was designed to resist large lateral
loads arising from inclined columns located north and south of the core thrusting outward.
4 18TH CONGRESS OF IABSE, SEOUL, 2012

The robustness and redundancy of the level 14 slab was carefully considered with respect to:

i) Application of accidental loading rules and identification of key elements.

ii) Risk, probability, and consequences of key element removal.
iii) Level 14 slab strut and tie redundancy.

3. Concept Options
A number of concept options were considered for resolving the in-plane stresses at level 14 which
involved variations of material type, use of pre-stress, and construction strategy. These are
discussed below in the context of the structural issues and constraints listed above.
3.1 Structural Steel
A solution involving the use of steel sections to resist the column thrusts was considered, with the
steel sections embedded within the depth of a concrete slab acting as struts and ties within a truss-
like diagram collecting forces at the column nodes and transferring net out-of-balance effects to the
cores. A sub-option using steel positioned directly below the slab, offset to the plane of the
incoming column thrusts, was also considered but quickly ruled-out due to complexity of the
column and core wall connections required as well as concerns over fire protection and robustness.
The oblique array of incoming tensile thrusts, particularly from the cranked north facade columns,
meant that several steel sections would have been needed to collect the forces for transfer into the
core. This results in a congested and inefficient arrangement of steelwork which would have been
difficult to fabricate and construct on site. A steel solution also requires very large, and
consequently very heavy, sections to limit stress levels and control the resulting lateral strains at
cranked column nodes. The column thrusts were large and the lengths of steel needed to transfer
the load to the core relatively long, therefore even with large sections the strains at column locations
was high.
The large steel sections needed for this solution also led to concerns over reinforcement congestion
and clashes within the slab depth. The Contractor also expressed concerns over fabrication lead
times and the requirements to lift the sections to Level 14 and then connect together to create the
arrangement required.
3.2 Post Tensioned – Bonded
The use of post-tensioned concrete was considered as an option to control the in-plane tensile
stresses and the bonded post tensioned concrete solution assumed the application of full tendon pre-
stress at the time of slab construction at level 14. The use of compressive pre-stress to counter-act
tensile stresses would require considerably less material than the other ‘passive’ approaches and
would overcome the Contractor’s concerns over use of multiple trade subcontractors and
constructability.
The key constraints of this solution that led to it being rejected were:
i) The application of full pre-stress meant compressive stresses at anchorage locations were
very high, particularly at the V-column node and the 4-inclined columns south of the
core. The confinement reinforcement needed at column locations to contain the pre-
stress forces would have led to congestion and construction difficulties.
ii) The principle stress pathways of the tensile stresses were not orthogonal and flowed around
the edges of the corners core wall. The post tensioned concrete tendons would therefore
need to be curved on plan to follow the principle stress paths but the tendons used in a
bonded system are ducted and cannot be curved easily on plan.
 Innovative Infrastructures - Toward Human Urbanism 5

3.3 Post Tensioned – Un-bonded

An unbounded pre-stressed solution was developed in an attempt to overcome the geometric
constraints of the ducted bonded system. The un-bonded solution also enabled the used of larger
tendon sizes and meant that pre-stress could be applied sequentially. The sequential application of
pre-stress to the tendons had been used to great effect on the Al-Faisaliah Tower (Riyadh) and
would resolve concerns relating to the bursting reinforcement congestion at column locations.
The tendons would be slotted within plastic ducts to remain un-bonded until completion of the
superstructure and it was proposed to apply the pre-stress sequentially after a set stage of
construction; in this case after construction of every 5-stories.
Although the tendons in the un-bonded system could be curved the large bar diameters needed to
reduce the number of tendons required to avoid congestion meant that only very large radii could be
achieved.
The complex, asymmetric flow of the principle load paths meant that the post tensioned solution
needed to be considered as part of a strut-and-tie system. A clear structural diagram with a strut-
and-tie system that simplified the tendon arrangement eliminated the need for curved tendons.
However, this arrangement digressed from the principle stress diagram shown in the figure opposite.
Strut-and-tie solutions involving departures from the principle stress paths established from elastic
analysis risk excessive deformation, or cracking in the case of a concrete solution, in order to
engage and mobilise the intended structural system. In this case the objective was to minimise slab
strain and deformation in order to avoid high parasitic stress levels in the inclined columns.

Figure 3: showing maximum and principal stress diagrams from elastic analysis.

The level 14 slab represented a critical key element in the building design and integrating
redundancy into the solution was a key consideration. A problem with the un-bonded pre-stressed
solution was how to build redundancy into the solution without creating congestion and
compromising buildability, as a considerable number of 75mm diameter tendons was needed, each
requiring a 100mm diameter plastic duct, to control tensile stresses in the first instance. This
became a fundamental concern with the un-bonded solution.
The un-bonded pre-stressed solution was eventually rejected over concerns relating to slab
6 18TH CONGRESS OF IABSE, SEOUL, 2012

deformation and the construction complexity associated with the sequential-stress regime.
3.4 Reinforced Concrete
A reinforced concrete solution was not initially preferred due to the depth of concrete section and
large quantities of steel reinforcement needed to control the in-plane stresses in the slab. The pre-
stressed solution described in the sections above represented minimum steel design and would have
needed less material than the ‘passive’, reinforced concrete solution. However, the reinforced
concrete option was more easily developed to align with the principal stress distributions within the
slab without the need for complex detailing and was more aligned with the Contractors area of
expertise.

4. Reinforced Concrete Design for In-plane Stress

The analysis, design and detailing of the final RC solution is described in the sections below.
4.1 Elastic Analysis
The principal stress flows determined from the elastic analysis were used to shape the final solution.
The global analysis for the building design was carried out using ETABS as this software package
has been developed to suit this particular application, but a separate model was constructed for the
analysis of level 14 using ROBOT. The ROBOT software package has powerful meshing capability
and enables clear illustration of membrane stresses and principal stress flows within shell elements.
The massive tensile thrusts from the inclined column nodes occurred both north and south of the
core and the analysis demonstrated both the flow of stress around the north east corner of the core
and the ‘cancelling’ of the larger tensile thrust forces in the eastern region of the slab as shown in
the figure below. The combined tensile thrusts from the columns south of the core was greater than
that from the north facade columns therefore the nett force not cancelled out was delivered into the
core.

4.2 Serviceability Limit State Design and Detailing

For the serviceability limit state load condition the elastic analysis was considered appropriate as
reinforcement stress in the concrete section was limited to 130N/mm2 in order to minimise the
concrete crack width to 0.2mm and retain the elastic characteristics of the concrete diaphragm in
accordance with BS8007:1987 cl. 3.2.2. The elastic analysis showed slab strains at the V-column to
low. This generated acceptable levels of secondary stress within the column and the slab edge
displacement was within movement tolerances required for cladding connection design.
The high tensile stresses in the concrete section arising from the inclined column thrusts were
considered together with the additional stresses from gravity loads. A separate slab analysis was
carried out for the gravity load combinations and the results superimposed with the output from the
in-plane stress analysis. The reinforcement needed for SLS was detailed orthogonally; parallel and
perpendicular to the core walls. It was possible to limit the reinforcement within the 600mm thick
concrete slab to T32@150 centres in regions where the reinforcement entered the core walls. This
ensured the reinforcement spacings between slab and core were aligned and prevented congestion.
Outside of these areas the reinforcement density was increased, with localised areas around the very
highly stressed column zones needing up to 15,000mm2/m of reinforcement.

4.3 Ultimate Limit State Design and Detailing

The principal stress analysis informed the strut-and-tie diagram used for the ultimate limit state
design. The figure below shows the final strut and tie-diagram developed for level 14.
 Innovative Infrastructures - Toward Human Urbanism 7

Figure 4: showing strut and tie relationship to principal stress paths

The ULS reinforcement was placed centrally with 600mm thick slab and required VSL SAS bars up
to 75mm diameter for strength. The articulation of the reinforcement needed to maintain principle
stress flow and maintain alignment with the strut-and-tie diagram load paths was achieved through
careful detailing of embedded steel node connections as shown in the figure below.

Figure 5: showing embedded steel reinforcement in level 14 and V embedded steel to primary nodes

Column node connections ensured adequate anchorage of tensile reinforcement. Most complex of
these was for the V-column. The figure shows the final steel node connection which was designed
and detailed to prevent clashes and congestion with V-column reinforcement and integrated with
architectural requirements for cladding zones.
8 18TH CONGRESS OF IABSE, SEOUL, 2012

4.4 Floor Interaction

ETABS analysis – floor plates were meshed rather than use made of the rigid diaphragms to ensure
modelled correctly. Lateral strain of the floors needed to be modelled accurately - rigid diaphragm
laterally too stiff and would have incorrectly shown all lateral/in plane stress applied to the core at a
single level rather than distributed over a number of levels. This also applied in other areas of the
building where large –in-plane stresses were encountered, namely level 06 – and the outriggers at
level 30.

5. Conclusion
Whilst many tall towers demand great creativity from structural engineers in ways that finally get
expressed in the overall appearance of the architecture, this paper concentrates on the hidden details
and intricacies of structural engineering work which many never see or appreciate, but which are
still fundamental in realising today’s modern innovative architectures.

6. Credits
6.1 Project credits

The authors particularly appreciate the valuable contributions made by SBG and this reflects the
team work and collaborative effort that is essential to realising a building of such complexity.
Thanks also go to the Gensler design team who were a pleasure to work with and whose bold and
dynamic building design created the opportunity to push the boundaries of structural engineering.