Tall building foundations: design methods and applications

Abstract

This paper will review some of the challenges faced by designers of foundations for very tall buildings, primarily from a geotechnical viewpoint. Some characteristic features of such buildings will be reviewed and then the options for foundation systems will be discussed. A three-stage process of foundation design and verification will be described, and the importance of proper ground characterization and assessment of geotechnical parameters will be emphasised. The application of the foundation design principles will be illustrated via four projects, each of which has presented a different challenge to the designers:1.The La Azteca building in Mexico City, Mexico.2.The Burj Khalifa in Dubai.3.The Incheon 151 Tower in Incheon, South Korea.4.A high-rise tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.