Page 83 - Vertical City
P. 83
Chapter IV
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWERS
Structural Statics
The structure of a tower is principally subject to vertical
loads due to its own weight and its live loads; to horizon-
tal loads, due to wind and seismic movement, and the
effects of dilation due to temperature changes.
Its foundations are generally less critical as it is suf-
ficient to compensate the total vertical loads by the
weight of the excavated soil for underground spaces
and structures, and to ensure a large enough base to
handle the horizontal forces at least expense.
Bearing capacity of soil (0,1 mPa) 1 , of brick (1 mPa), of
wood or ordinary reinforced concrete (10 mPa) suffices
for constructions of a few levels.
Ordinary steel (with a resistance of 100 to 200 mPa)
enabled the first high-rise constructions from the end
of the 19th century, the skyscrapers of Chicago and
New York, but also the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel
Tower in Paris.
1 1MPa = 1.000.000 N/m² = 100 N/cm² = 10 kgf/cm². 1 GPa =
1000 MPa.
