What Is Outrigger System
What Is Outrigger System
The outrigger and belt truss system is commonly used as one of the structural system to
effectively control the excessive drift due to lateral load, so that, during small or medium
lateral load due to either wind or earthquake load, the risk of structural and non-structural
damage can be minimized. For high-rise buildings, particularly in seismic active zone or wind
load dominant, this system can be chosen as an appropriate structure. This paper studies
the use of outrigger and belt truss system for high-rise concrete building subjected to wind or
earthquake load. Eight 40storey two dimensional models of outrigger and belt truss system
are subjected to wind load; and five 60storey three dimensional models are subjected to
earthquake load, analyzed and compared to find the lateral displacement reduction related to
the outrigger and belt system location. For the two dimensional 40storey model, 65%
maximum displacement reduction can be achieved by providing first outrigger at the top and
second outrigger at the middle of the structure height. For the three dimensional 60storey
structural model subjected to the earthquake load, about 18 % reduction in maximum
displacement can be achieved with optimum location of the outrigger truss placed at the top
and the 33rd level.
INTRODUCTION :
The outrigger structural system is one of the horizontal load resisting systems. In this system
the belt truss ties all the external columns on the periphery of the structure and the outriggers
connect these belt trusses to the central core of the structure thus restraining the exterior
columns from rotation. This system is functionally efficient as there is a free floor space
between the central core and the exterior columns.
Advantages:
Considerable reduction or complete elimination in the net tension forces in the columns and
foundations.
The external column spacing is not governed by structural consideration and can easily spaced
from aesthetic and functional perspective.
Disadvantage
Connection at the interface between core and foundation is expensive and involves intensive
work.
Labour intensive and expensive rock anchors are required alternative to simple spread
footing.
Conclusion:
The outrigger system has earned a preferred status for the structural design
of tall and supertall building around the world. Also it is considered to be
the most efficient lateral resisting system for all tall building.
[1] Junais Ahmed A.K., Yamini Sreevalli (2014) Application of Outrigger in Slender High Rishe
Buildings to Reduce Fundamental Time Period
Council on tall building and urban habitat(2010)tall building in numbers journal of the
CTBUH,2,pp.40-41.