Evolution and Performance of Structural Systems in Skyscrapers under Lateral Loads

The growth of population and rapid urbanization has significantly led to the development of high-rise buildings that provide more occupants over a limited plot size, which is a critical requirement today. The primary challenges faced by these structures are wind and seismic loads, which cause swaying and structural failure. This paper critically analyzes the evolution and lateral load performance of skyscraper structural systems with respect to their efficiency under various lateral loadings. Latest structural systems like outrigger and belt truss systems provide adequate lateral stiffness as well as reduce storey drift. On the other hand, tube-based systems, e.g., tube in tube or bundled tubes, resist overturning moments and lateral displacement. Diagrid Structural systems are not only efficient in resisting lateral loads but also provide opportunities for architectural treatments. Emerging structural systems lean towards Hybrid systems that mainly focus on improved lateral resistance with advanced materials such as fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) for optimized efficiency. Vibrations are also one of the key challenges for these types of structures, for which damping systems are introduced, such as tuned mass dampers (TMD) and tuned liquid dampers (TLD) to reduce vibrations and improve occupant comfort. Recent advancements in structural systems indicate a strong shift towards performance-based structural design and analysis aimed at improving lateral resistance, material efficiency, and occupant comfort.