Civil Engineering/skyscrapers

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Expert: - 6/5/2008


Question
hello, welcome to your returning.
well I spend many days waiting you :D
well every skyscraper must have strong constructios in its ground and under ground levels preventing any falling down, but when there is a hurricane or something like that, these strong constructions would'nt make its role, and that because they are found in the axis of rotation-mainly the ground constructions-so thier moment of force will be null, and the skyscraper will fall down, and the higher was the skyscraper the more percantage that it will fall down, is that true, if yes how to prevent it??
maybe it's wrong but that is my knowledge
thanks for listening

Answer
Hi Mohammad,

I am not sure I quite understand your question, but basically hihsie buildings are designed to resist over-turning moments due to wind and seismic loading and the foundations are made strong enough not to rotate about any axes. It si true that the higher the building, the higher will be the over-turning moments, so one has to size the foundations accordingly.

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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