Wind Tunnel Test

Experience of Hong Kong in the
Construction of Super High-Rise Structures
Presented by Raymond Wong

City University of Hong Kong
February 2013
1/500
Building bends or deflects

under lateral force
The more rigid of a building
structure, the less it deflects
wind
Beside structural concerns,

deflection is also a comfort
consideration for building
users. Building regulation
has a basic criteria on
deflection.
The structure of a building
should be so designed to
have a deflection less than
1/500 of its height
The main challenge for super high-rise slim buildings
Various deflection modes under wind tunnel test

(Cheung Kong Centre)
To achieve these requirements, super high-rise

structure should have the following strengthening
designs in common:
1. Provision of lateral stiffening members to make the
structure more rigid to take up wind load. These
members can be in the form of outrigger, bracing
members, belt truss, vertical truss, tensioned
members etc.
2. Provision to accommodate some differential
deflections/shortening between different structural
materials (RC and structural steel for hybrid
structures)
Manulift Tower, 1994 - 1997
Office Tower of Langham Place

1999 - 2004
Nina Plaza 2004 - 2008
Construction of
the Cheung Kong Centre
Rising of the main structure
Forming the RC core wall

using a set of self-climbing
formwork operated by
screw jacks (Jump Form)
Construction of
the transfer truss
Detail of the transfer truss
Composite column in the form of

reinforced concrete filled tube
Connecting the steel joist

to the core wall
The RC topping
forming the floor slab
Outrigger/belt truss as a stiffening

provision in the building design
The adjusting device to cater

for the differential shortening of
the external frame using shim
plate and hydraulic lifting action
Close up view of
the shimming device
The set of outrigger/belt truss

located on the roof level
Construction of the
International Finance Centre
a) Construction of the core wall within

the 62m cofferdam
Construction of the core wall inside the cofferdam as seen in July 2000
Construction of the core wall inside the cofferdam as seen in August 2000
Construction of the core wall inside the cofferdam as seen in October 2000
Forming the slab around

the core wall inside the
cofferdam shaft
b) The mega columns
6/F
4/F
3/F
2/F
1/F
G
LG
B1
B2
B3M
B3
(27-07-00) - C1
Cycle 1
(20-07-00)
B4
B5
Cycle 2
(29-07-00)
(06-07-00) - C1
(13-07-00) - C2
(17-07-00) - C3
Cycle 1
(26-06-00)
Cycle 2
(30-06-00)
Cycle 3
(09-07-00)
(03-06-00)
Pour 1
(30-04-00)
Pour 2
(16-04-00)
All Mega Column Plinth

Completed on 14-06-2000
Raft Foundation Completed
on 25-03-2000
The plinth and the base plate for the

mega column
Erection of the column

from the base
c) Using the Climb Form to construct

the core wall
Erecting the Climb Form from the Ground level as seen in February 2001
Operation of the Climb Form

from the Ground level to the
1/F as seen in March 2001
Formwork detail as seen from

an elevated position
General Formwork layout showing the various shaft positions
Formwork operation detail as

seen on the deck
Formwork operation detail the external

and internal jack systems
Inside structure inside the core wall to be

formed using in-situ method by the using
of timber form and aluminium form
Detail formwork arrangement

to form the interior wall and
slab inside the core wall
d) Construction of the outrigger

system on 6-7/F
Detail of the completed

outrigger system on 6/F and
the building frame on top
e) Construction of the outrigger

system on 32/F
Junction detail of the

column head and the
outrigger bearingsupport
Deck on 32/F before the erection of the outrigger
Gradual extending of the

belt truss and outrigger
Column head junction with the

bearing-support in position
The anchor framing

embedded into the
core wall
Gradual completion of the outrigger systems
Anchor frame before

embedding with outer
layer of reinforced
concrete
Embedment of the anchor frame concrete on the core wall soon to complete
The completed outrigger and

belt truss system on 32/F
The bearing support of the outrigger

and the column articulation detail
f) Construction of the building frame
Erection of the floor beams

to form the building frame
Forming the composite slab
Connecting shear
stud to the floor
beams to provide
bonding between
beams and RC slab
g) Forming the Mega Columns using

the Climb Form
Junction detail of the mega column and the slab
Encasing a column using

self-climbing formwork
Erection of the Climb Form specially designed

for the forming of the composite column
The column form

in a closed position
Operation
the self-climbing
form
Theof
column
form in an opened
for theposition
composite
column
in IFC2
ready
for lifting
A Construction Highlight for the

International Commerce Centre at
Kowloon Station, West Kowloon
Construction features of the ICC Tower

Height of tower structure 490m
Average floor plate area 3000m2
Total floor area 280,000 m2
Key dates
Procession of site June 2003
Obtaining of Temporary Occupation Permit December 2007
Expected Full Occupation February 2010
Opening of the hotel end of 2010
Use of floor spaces (floor number is for reference only)
Office spaces from 8/F to 98/F.
Hotel apartment from 101/F to roof, total 14 floors.
Sky Lobby and Observation Deck located on 43/F and 99/F
respectively.
Outrigger spaces are used as mechanical floors.
Construction/structural features
A 76m diameter cofferdam lined with 1.5m-thick diaphragm
wall panels was formed to facilitate the construction of the 9mdeep foundation raft and core wall structure of tower using
bottom up arrangement.
Basement in 2 levels is constructed using semi bottom- up
arrangement due to limited space and the existence of the
MTR tunnel tube crossing within 6m on the side of the tower
foot-print.
Grade 90 concrete is used up to 60/F. The other portion of
tower structure uses mainly Grade 45 and Grade 60 concrete.
Four sets of outrigger are provided at 6/F, 42/F, 78/F and
100/F. Except for the one on 6/F which is constructed in insitu prestressed design, the upper ones are in fabricated
structural steel with an inner frame embedded in the core wall.
Two sets of jump-form were used (in stepped operating

mode) for the construction of the core wall from 2/F up to 100/F
with some dimension re-alignment at a few floor locations with
the outrigger frame or where thickness of core wall reduced.
Connecting joint between the outrigger and mega column is
provided with design to cater for the differential deflection
similar to the IFC2 project.
General composite frame structure is used for the tower up to
100/F, with the central core, an external steel frame rested onto 8
mega columns which span about 16m.
Hotel floors from 101/F upward are constructed in in-situ
method using Grade 60 reinforced concrete and traditional large
panel form, with a transfer structure at 101/F.
Total amount of structural material consumed:
Concrete 240,000 m3, Reinforcing bar 98,000 tons,
Structural steel 27,000 tons
Artistic view of the ICC

tower and the Kowloon
Station Development as seen
from Hong Kong side
Artistic view of the ICC

tower and the Kowloon
Station Development as
seen from Hong Kong side
Master Plan for the MTR Kowloon Station Development
Photo 1
Photo 2
Early stage of work as seen in

2002 showing the layout of site
and the facilities that equipped
for the forming of diaphragm
wall panels which would be
used as the lining of the 76m
cofferdam
Standard equipments for the

construction of diaphragm wall
as seen on site, including the
desanding plant (above) for the
removal of excavated spoil
through the circulating
bentonite slurry and the reverse
circulation trench cutting
Photo 1
Commencement of excavation
for the 76m-diameter cofferdam
as seen in late 2003
Completion of the foundation raft up to the

third layer. The total depth of the raft is 9m.
The concreting process is arranged to be
placed in 5 layers as a means to control
temperature generated from concrete as well
as to ease the handling of large amount of
concrete during work.
Excavation of the cofferdam down to the formation at about -20mpd
Casting the 9m deep foundation raft in various portion

(total in 18 pour and concrete volume 36,286m3)
Building section showing the

construction arrangement from
the foundation raft up to the
first outrigger set on 6/F.
Core wall and the mega columns constructed

within the cofferdam close to the ground level.
Usual large-panel steel form was used up to 4/F
before the erection of the jump form.
Construction of the
floor system from
ground to 1/F spanning
from the core wall to
the mega columns
using traditional timber
panel formwork.
Commencement of
excavation on the side
of the cofferdam to
form the remaining
portion of basement
structure
Main building structure

constructed up to 4/F. The
jump form was erected on
the 2/F for the onward
construction of the core
wall.
Main building structure as

seen in February 2006 with
the jump form for the core
wall and the climb form
for the mega columns in
full operation.
Overview seeing the construction of the basement using typical bottom-up

arrangement with shoring support counter-act onto the completed main
tower structure. The diaphragm wall panel as side to the previous
cofferdam was demolished as the excavation proceeds.
Construction of the tower before entered

onto the typical cycle. By the time the
jump form for the core wall was being
erected and the basement construction on
the side commenced.
The core wall and mega columns of the

main tower structure ascending from the
cofferdam. The tunnel tube of the MTR
Tung Chung Line is located on the strip
of land on the lower side of the cofferdam.
Tunnel tube of future

Kowloon Southern Link (2009)
Tunnel tube of existing

MTR Tung Chung Line
and Airport Express
Aerial view of the Kowloon Station

Development and the nearby facilities
Close up of the gigantic jump-form system for the core wall construction
Overview of the tower structure

with the jump-form for the core
wall, climb-form for the mega
columns and a set of lift-form for
an appended wall (the finger wall,
at the right side of core, orange in
colour) in operating position.
Close up of the lower portion

of the main tower with the
structural layout and floor
system clearly seen.
Typical Construction Sequence and safety provisions
Figure 3 Typical layout of core wall
Close up of the core wall structure

with a set of self-climbing loading
platform being erected for the
lifting of materials and equipments.
Typical view of
floor deck spanning
between the core
wall and the
external frame
before concreting
Typical floor layout detail at the building corner on 15/F.

The set-up of climb-form for a mega column can also be observed.
Installing the climb-form for the mega

column as seen from the side . The steel
shutter panel was not fixed onto the main
frame of form at this stage.
Two sets of climb-form in

szconized operating phase.
Reinforcing bar of the mega

column being fixed with lapping
coupler as seen on the work
platform ready for concreting.
Setting-up of the climb-form mounted on top

of the mega column with the enclosing safe
screen and work platform already in place.
Photo 1
General view of the jumpform for the core wall as

seen on the platform deck.
Due to the large size of the
core wall, two separated
sets of jump-form were
installed and operated in
stepped sequence to make
each lifting more easy to
handle.
The jump form for the construction

of the core wall in two operating
phases. Note also the set of lift-form
(orange in colour) on the right side
of core wall for the construction of
the finger wall.
Reinforcement detail for the core wall

(measured 38m x 38m), as seen on the
work platform. In order to reduce the
thickness of wall, Grade 90 high
strength concrete was used for the core
wall and the mega columns from the
basement up to 60/F.
lift-form (orange in colour) used for the construction of

the finger wall appended to the core wall.
4th
Outrigger 12.2m high
M4-3/F (417mPD)
R4/F (405mPD)
- Steel Outrigger
(occupying 3 Floors )
- Pre-stressed R.C. Outrigger
(occupying 5 Floors )
3rd Outrigger 12.2m high
2nd Outrigger 12.2m high
78/F (311mPD)
R3/F (299mPD)
48/F (191mPD)
R2/F (179mPD)
12/F (74mPD)
1st Outrigger 22.2m high
M1-1/F (52mPD)
Outriggers Distribution
Frame embedded in core wall
composition of a set of typical Outrigger
81/F (325.1mPD)
80/F (320.6mPD)
Embedded anchor frame
Outrigger frame
79/F (316.1mPD)
Connection joint
78a/F (312.1mPD)
78/F (308.0mPD)
30m
77/F (303.9mPD)
Outriggers Construction
76/F (299.4mPD)
75/F (294.9mPD)
Core Wall
Mega Column
Anchor frame to be embedded in

the core wall for the tightening
of the outrigger member
installing the jointing

member (K-knot) of
the outrigger onto the
slot provided in the
mega column.
outrigger member in initial

connected position before
final adjustment and welding.
Unlike other outrigger system used to

stiffen the structural frame for highrise
tower, ICC employed a set of cast-insitu RC outrigger system,, tensioned in
various stages. This design was
employed to gain time in the planning
and fabrication of the structural
members. Photo 29a shows a set of
anchor block on the side of the mega
column. Photo 29b is another set
situated inside the core wall.
External view of the tower as seen in October

2006 showing all the major structural parts of
the tower were under construction at its typical
cycle. This included the core wall structure,
the finger wall (wall appended to the core wall
up to 50/F, the mega columns and the floor
deck). Note also the spacious entrance canopy
with about 25m headroom on the lower right
corner of photo.
Gradual progress of the tower structure as seen in early to mid 2007 with the
installation of curtain wall for the lower floors which scheduled for the
obtaining of the temporary operation permit by November 2007.
External view of the ICC Tower from the roof of Sorrento

in September 2007, January and April 2008.

Wind Tunnel Test

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Wind Tunnel Test

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Wind Tunnel Test

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Experience of Hong Kong in the

Construction of Super High-Rise Structures

Presented by Raymond Wong

Building bends or deflects

Beside structural concerns,

The main challenge for super high-rise slim buildings

Various deflection modes under wind tunnel test

To achieve these requirements, super high-rise

Manulift Tower, 1994 - 1997

Office Tower of Langham Place

Nina Plaza 2004 - 2008

Rising of the main structure

Forming the RC core wall

Detail of the transfer truss

Composite column in the form of

Connecting the steel joist

Outrigger/belt truss as a stiffening

The adjusting device to cater

The set of outrigger/belt truss

a) Construction of the core wall within

Forming the slab around

b) The mega columns

All Mega Column Plinth

The plinth and the base plate for the

Erection of the column

c) Using the Climb Form to construct

Operation of the Climb Form

Formwork detail as seen from

General Formwork layout showing the various shaft positions

Formwork operation detail as

Formwork operation detail the external

Inside structure inside the core wall to be

Detail formwork arrangement

d) Construction of the outrigger

Detail of the completed

e) Construction of the outrigger

Junction detail of the

Deck on 32/F before the erection of the outrigger

Gradual extending of the

Column head junction with the

The anchor framing

Gradual completion of the outrigger systems

Anchor frame before

The completed outrigger and

The bearing support of the outrigger

f) Construction of the building frame

Erection of the floor beams

Forming the composite slab

g) Forming the Mega Columns using

Junction detail of the mega column and the slab

Encasing a column using

Erection of the Climb Form specially designed

The column form

A Construction Highlight for the

Construction features of the ICC Tower

Two sets of jump-form were used (in stepped operating

Artistic view of the ICC

Artistic view of the ICC

Master Plan for the MTR Kowloon Station Development