Exploring Different Types of Multi-Storey Steel Frame Construction

Multi-storey steel frame construction can be divided into several types, based on their structural stress characteristics. Each type provides unique benefits and challenges, making them suitable for different applications and settings. This article will introduce each type in detail to help you better understand multi-storey steel frame construction.

Portal Frame Type of Multi-storey Steel Frame Construction

Portal frames represent a traditional structural system characterized by their upper frame, consisting of inclined beams, columns, braces, purlins, tie rods, and gable frames. This lightweight steel structure provides several benefits, such as simple pressure management, clear force transmission routes, quick component production, and easy factory processing, resulting in short construction time.

Therefore, portal frames are widely used in industrial, commercial, cultural, and entertainment facilities, as well as various other industrial and civil buildings. Originating from the USA, multi-storey steel frame construction has developed for nearly a century, becoming a system with well-established design, production, and construction standards.

Space Frame Type of Multi-storey Steel Frame Construction

Commonly known as spherical node frames, space frames are a type of lightweight multi-storey steel frame construction designed according to geometric structures. These frameworks generally use multidirectional spacing, and are constructed with tension and compression rods.

The structure is influenced by three-dimensional spatial forces, which can withstand loads from different directions. This makes multi-storey steel frame construction particularly suitable for large buildings with seismic requirements, and they are often used in public buildings.

Frame Structure Type of Multi-storey Steel Frame Construction

Frame structures consist of columns and beams, designed to support both vertical and lateral forces. However, rigid frames often show limited resistance to lateral forces, resulting in significant lateral deformation, making them generally suitable for structures under 20 stories. Columns are typically box-shaped steel or concrete-filled steel tubular columns. The latter involves filling circular or box-shaped steel columns with concrete, combining the advantages of steel structure and concrete compressive strength.

Frame Shear Wall Multi-storey Steel Frame Construction

Similar to frame structures, this system uses shear walls instead of braces to resist lateral forces. Shear walls, typically made of concrete slabs, steel plates, or a combination of steel and concrete, enhance lateral stiffness and provide more flexible layout options, making them suitable for high-rise buildings.

Bundled Tube Type of Multi-storey Steel Frame Construction

Bundled tube structures are a type of composite tube system.For large building floor plans, a modular grid layout is adopted to minimize the deformation of exterior walls under lateral force. This structure forms a set of composite tubes consisting of an outer frame tube and internal longitudinal and transverse shear walls (or closely spaced columns), greatly enhancing the building's stiffness and resistance to lateral forces. Bundled tube structures can accommodate any building shape, adapt to different height combinations, and enrich the architectural appearance. The 110-story Willis Tower in Chicago, USA, is an example of multi-storey steel frame construction constructed using the bundled tube system.

Due to policy support, industrialization needs, and increased steel production, multi-storey steel frame construction has made significant progress. Their strong assembly features allow these buildings to effectively adapt to modern advancements. Therefore, we should make full use of multi-storey steel frame construction's technical advantages, emphasize their strengths while mitigating their weaknesses, and focus on creating more prefabricated systems to meet current development needs.