Analysis and Design of a Multi-Storey Building Incorporating Belt Truss and Outrigger Systems: A Review

Abstract

The outrigger and belt truss system is a widely used structural mechanism for controlling excessive lateral drift in high-rise buildings subjected to wind and seismic forces. This study evaluates the effectiveness of outrigger and belt truss systems in a G+12 commercial building with different structural configurations, including conventional concrete, steel, and composite materials. A three-dimensional finite element analysis is conducted using STAAD.Pro to assess the impact of outriggers on lateral displacement, storey drift, base shear, and bending moments. The study considers seismic loading as per IS 1893 (Part 1): 2002 and investigates the optimal placement of outriggers for maximum efficiency. The results indicate significant improvements in deflection control and structural stability with the inclusion of outrigger and belt truss systems. The findings provide insights into the selection of optimal structural configurations for high-rise buildings in seismic and wind-prone zones, ensuring enhanced safety and serviceability.

Introduction

Summary:

High-rise buildings are increasingly constructed due to urbanization and limited land, but they face challenges from lateral forces like wind and earthquakes causing excessive drift and instability. To improve stability, the outrigger and belt truss system is widely used. This system links a central core with perimeter columns through rigid outriggers and belt trusses, significantly enhancing lateral stiffness, reducing displacement, and improving occupant comfort.

The design of tall buildings often prioritizes serviceability, such as controlling lateral displacement and story drift, over just strength. The outrigger system, inspired by the stability mechanism of sailing ships, distributes lateral loads efficiently and is especially effective in seismic and wind-prone regions. Studies show that adding one or more outrigger levels can reduce lateral deflection by up to 51%.

The research focuses on a G+12 commercial building analyzed using STAAD.Pro software under seismic loads per Indian standards (IS 1893:2002). It compares reinforced concrete, steel, and composite structural systems with various outrigger and belt truss configurations to optimize lateral displacement control. The composite system with outriggers, belt trusses, and shear walls demonstrated the best seismic performance, significantly reducing lateral drift and improving stiffness.

The literature review confirms the effectiveness of outrigger systems but highlights gaps like real-time adaptability under dynamic loads, soil-structure interaction effects, and hybrid systems with damping. Future research is recommended to explore smart outrigger systems with advanced computational tools.

Advancements in modeling software, performance-based seismic design, and hybrid structural materials have improved high-rise building resilience, but challenges remain in optimizing outrigger placement, controlling deflections, and managing costs for sustainable construction.

Conclusion

The review of this study highlights the significant role of outrigger structural systems in enhancing the lateral stiffness and overall stability of high-rise buildings subjected to seismic and wind forces. The integration of belt trusses, perimeter columns, and core structural walls significantly improves resistance against lateral loads, as outlined in IS 1893-2016 (Part 1). The study confirms that the positioning of outriggers greatly influences structural performance, with optimal placement found at 0.9H and 0.5H from the base in a two-outrigger system.Comparative analysis of structural responses reveals that buildings without outriggers exhibit higher displacements under both seismic and wind load conditions. Specifically, for seismic loads in Zone III, X-axis displacements are 4.25% higher, and Y-axis displacements are 7.56% higher in structures without outriggers compared to those incorporating the system. Similarly, for wind loads, X-axis displacements increase by 9.23% in buildings lacking outrigger belt trusses. Overall, the study underscores the efficiency of outrigger-belt truss systems in reducing lateral deflections, thereby enhancing building performance under extreme conditions. Future research can explore alternative outrigger configurations and material optimizations to further improve structural resilience while ensuring cost-effectiveness and practical feasibility.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mr. Bhupesh Kisan Regundwar, Dr. Aasif Baig. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.