Optimum Rigger Locations for Highrise Braced Frames with Facade Riggers

Numerical analyses are performed to show the effect of stiffening facade riggers on the behavior of the structure and to investigate the optimum locations of facade riggers. Optimum locations of the facade riggers to minimize the drift at the top of the structure are obtained by maximizing the drift reduction caused by the facade riggers and are significantly influenced by the bending and shear stiffnesses of the braced frame and facade riggers. Three standard load cases of uniformal and triangularly distributed lateral loads as well as a lateral point load at the top of the structure are considered in this paper Optimum locations of facade riggers are plotted as functions of nondimensional relative stiffness parameters and for structures with one to four riggers. Although the analysis presented herein is based on certain simplifying assumptions, it is believed that the results do provide sufficiently accurate information for determining the optimum locations of facade riggers in highrise structures.