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Conference Session C10 Paper 2169

THE BUTTRESSED CORE

Chase Smethurst (cas233@pitt.edu), Billy Green (weg22@pitt.edu)

Abstract - This paper will describe and demonstrate the use Key Words – Burj Khalifa, Buttressed Core, civil engineers,
of the buttressed core, the newest and most cutting edge concrete, Fly Ash, structure, Y-design
design being used in the infrastructures of some of the tallest
and the tallest building in the world, these otherwise known THE BURJ KHALIFA
as skyscrapers. The infrastructures and designs of these
buildings will be explained thoroughly as well as the direction The Burj Khalifa (formerly known as the Burj Dubai) gained
that these skyscrapers and modern buildings are heading for. the title of the world’s tallest building when it was completed
Further discussion will show the values of the known and in 2010. It rises to a maximum height of 828 meters (2716.5
proven advantages of this innovation of the ‘buttressed core’. feet), taller than any other man made structure [1]. It is the
It’s ‘three wing design which extend out of the central core crowning achievement in the massive construction projects in
and firmly anchor the skyscrapers will be described and told Dubai, UAE, and has become a symbol for the nation. Dubai
as well its use in the future building of our cities most iconic has seen a huge amount of construction in the past few
landmarks. decades. It has built the world’s tallest hotel, the Burj al Arab,
This conference paper will both describe some of the which sits on a man made island in the Persian Gulf. And
techniques and designs currently used in some the earth’s speaking of man made islands, more than 300 have been built
most famous buildings. The buttressed core will be examined in the Persian Gulf. This is a paradise for architects and
in detail, describing the different components and parts which engineers who want to make their wildest dreams come true.
make up the buttressed core and the materials which go into This is a place where you would expect the world’s tallest
making it like the use of fly ash in the cement of the core building to be built.
(Sheath), describing in part how it operates as a whole, It is the centerpiece of a $20 billion construction project in
making the world’s tallest skyscrapers more structurally Dubai, UAE. It has been made to bring more business into the
sound even at their ridiculous heights. The assessment of how city. The tower is mainly residential, an oddity for
and why this is an invaluable design and why it is of skyscrapers, who are usually used as office space. This is in
importance to our future will be described and discussed as an attempt to make urban areas more livable. The building
the most advantageous reason for civil engineers and those being connected with transit in the area makes getting from
building skyscrapers into the future to use it. This paper will the tower to the rest of the city easy. But, even being an
also present examples that the design was used in the most excellent place to live, it has remained with a good portion of
famous and tallest buildings such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai its residential space empty [2].
known as the world’s tallest building, doubling the size of the Bill Baker, the designer of the Burj Khalifa, is an expert in
Empire State Building (Baker). The buttressed core allows super-tall skyscrapers. He has built many, but in his latest
for these skyscrapers to go up tall and fast with enough usable projects, "He's posing new structural approaches rather than
floor space to maximize clients chances of making a profit reworking old ones,” as stated by Carol Willis, director of the
(Blum). The buttressed core’s design is most prevalent and Skyscraper Museum in New York City [1].
well recognized in the beautiful and extravagant building in Dubai may be growing into a modern city, but it is also
Dubai the Burj Khalifa (WebBuildingsDirectory). The Burj holding on to its heritage and culture. The Burj Khalifa not
Khalifa offers a social impact as well bringing in extra profit only draws its design from its engineering, but it also pulls
and much publicity to Dubai (Dowdey) Overall civil from the culture of Dubai [2].
engineering in the future is set to explode and people and The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. And
cities want more beautiful and taller buildings, the buttressed it is the tallest by an impressive amount. The previous tallest
core allows for us to create these buildings of the future and building is Taipei 101. The Burj Khalifa is Taipei 101 with
show engineers that next step in innovation. Our paper the Chrysler Building on top of it. This is a jump in height of
belongs in the Civil Engineering Conference because it 300 meters. The gap between Taipei 101 and its predecessor,
describes and explains important innovations in the world of the Petronas Towers, is about 50 meters, and the gap between
civil engineering that are present in the Burj Khalifa. Even the Petronas Towers and its predecessor, the Willis Tower, is
though we only talk about one building, we describe how it about 10 meters. How could there be such an unprecedented
utilizes many new design schemes and techniques that allow jump in height? It is all placed within the secrets of the
it to become the tallest building in the world. buttressed core [3].

University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering April 14, 2012
1
Chase Smthurst
Billy
Green
fadf
THE BUTTRESSED CORE floors, tapering to a point at the top. This pointed design
emphasizes the height of the building making it seem taller
In the design and construction of Tower Palace III in Seoul, than it really is, adding to the hugeness of the building. These
South Korea, the Burj Khalifa’s designer, Bill Baker, noticed set backs also help to reduce the force of the wind [2].
that the design was a Y shape and he named it “the Buttressed Because the cross section facing the wind changes, as the
Core.” He recognized the strengths of his design and used it building gets taller, the wind cannot form powerful vortexes
for the construction of the next “world’s tallest building” [2]. on the opposite side as seen in Figure 1. On a flat edge
The design consists of a hexagonal core with three building, these vortexes cause shaking. This design reduces
projecting arms. It is built primarily of reinforced concrete, the amount of shaking that the Burj Khalifa will be impacted
odd among skyscrapers, which are usually steel. These with [4].
“buttresses” have walls that go down their length, ending with
thicker, hammerhead walls. All interior walls are stacked on
top of each other for the height of the building, giving the FIGURE 1
AFFECTS OF THE STRUCTURE ON THE WIND [4]
building high vertical strength. Columns along the perimeter
of the building connect to outrigger walls on mechanical
floors that connect to the interior walls of the building. This
along with flat plate floors makes all the vertical concrete
work for vertical as well as lateral strength [4].
It is the innovation that is beginning to be seen all over the
world and in taller and taller buildings. The innovator of the
buttressed core William Baker is becoming more and more
popular in the world of structural and civil engineering, later
in the article more we will see more in depth to the world of
William Baker, but the main part is that the buttressed core is
growing and its efficient way of helping construct buildings
taller, faster, and cheaper, is really catching on around the
world. This is especially relevant in the world of Dubai, the
place where the buttressed core has made such an impression
with its crowning achievement of the Burj Khalifa.
The buttressed core has the unique and amazing quality of
being strong and sturdy, yet also light and more efficient to
create. Yet it is not only the strength that the buttressed core The buttressed core allows the building to grow to amazing
provides for these amazingly tall structures but it is also the heights, but not use too much of the building for strength. If
appearance that it can give the structure that it designed to the Willis Tower was as tall as the Burj Khalifa so much of
build. The design of the buttressed core allows the structures its floor space would be used for structural purposes that the
to have more window space and can really give those who are building would no be feasible [1].
staying at one of William Baker’s amazing structures that The height of the Burj Khalifa is really what has made
amazing scenery from incredible heights that may be harder many marvel at it, and really is what turned the city of Dubai
come by in the skyscrapers that do not have such a favorable into what many believe is the first of many super tall
design. So not only does the buttressed core allow a building structures. Dubai in its pursuit to create a super tall city is on
to built both taller and faster than any other structure but also the cusp of several new structures because of the Burj
allows that structure to have that appeal of the amazing bird’s Khalifa’s effect on both the economic and social popularity of
eye view it gives to its residents or visitors. a city that otherwise considered in debt until one of there local
super rich leaders bailed the city out of billions of dollars of
Effect on the Structure debt. This man was who the amazing structure was named
after and many consider him to be the first to lead Dubai into
The buttressed core is not only used for its strength, but it has this new age where newer and taller buildings will be built in
also added to the rest of the structure. The Y-shape allows for the hope to attract more and more attention to the intriguing
the most unobstructed windows possible, without leaving part of real estate they already have.
much of the interior space closed off from the outside. The The Khalifa itself has a very unique structure to it and
shape also makes wind forces much less than that of a flat that is also accredited to the ingenious design from the
edged building, creating less surface area facing the wind at engineer Bill Baker. The extremely broad base of the building
any one time. The length of the buttresses also have uses is necessary for the extreme height that it reaches. It is said
elsewhere [4]. The buttresses take a step pack every few
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering April 14, 2012
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Chase Smthurst
Billy
Green
fadf
that the taller which you make the building the more broad of buttressed core for its amazing structural strength. This tri-
a base you will need to support it. It’s shrinking width as it axial design consists of three tiers that are staggered
gets taller and taller also helps, as there is less surface area for throughout construction of each floor as the building gets
the wind to grab onto and thus gust into. Essentially each floor taller and taller [6]. This design is the key to the building itself
plan as you go further is the Y-shape of the buttressed core staying in that safe zone where the building can sway with the
rotated to an exact position different to that of the floor before wind but not to the point where it becomes a dangerous risk.
it. This adds to both structure an appearance as the Y design This three-tier design allows the wind to not hit one side
adds the amount of windows that can be placed on a single directly or head on, diverting the wind from the hitting the
floor. building straight on at any point [6].
In the Burj Khalifa specifically each of the wings of the
CONSTRUCTING THE CORE buttressed core buttresses the others via a six-sided central
core [6]. The corridor walls extend from the central core to
near the end of each wing, terminating in thickened hammer
The buttressed core may seem to many to have a more head walls [4]. The outrigger of these walls is prohibited to
‘simple’ design to its structure. To engineers, the buttressed link outlying columns to the inner walls system., which allows
core is a thing of incredible ingenuity and there is much more these columns to help with the lateral load resistance of the
to what meets the eye when it comes to the recognizable, “Y” structure [6]. What this means is that the concrete itself in the
design. As engineers, to us it is not what a piece of machinery vertical direction is utilized to support both gravity and the
or what a structure may look like as a whole but more as to lateral loads. This amazingly designed part of the core allows
how the whole is made up of from the many different parts. the Burj Khalifa to be very stiff laterally and torsionally [6].
The buttressed core is something which is an incredible What this means is that at such extreme heights the things
innovation as a whole but is also something that is made up experience on the surface have to be magnified. The Burj
of many parts and without each and every part accounted for Khalifa is immense in size and what this means is that gravity
the structure will fail, this is why we found it so important to affects it greatly pushing down on all parts of the incredible
mention in our conference paper the actual construction of a building, meaning that to withstand such a large force of
buttressed core and what goes into giving it such amazing gravity the strength of the building in the upward direction
structural quality. must be incredibly powerful. The upward force must be large
One of the major components when it comes to enough to withstand gravity so that the structure itself does
constructing the buttressed core is the actual cement used to not collapse in on itself. The buttressed core allows for
make it. One of the interesting things about this structural structures to become very rigid and give them the strength
innovation is that it actually is not pure cement or concrete. vertically to resist the forces that cause it to collapse [4]. This
What is used to make the buttressed core is a newer and more is directly accredited to the design of the buttressed core
cost effective way to make cement-like substances known as where the three wings are attached to a very strong central
fly ash [5]. The development and use of mineral admixtures core. The central core is the key factor in giving the structure
like fly ash are becoming more common in the construction the strength to withstand intense weight of gravity [4].
industry mainly due to the consideration of a more cost- To be strong vertically as well as torsionally or otherwise
effective, energy saving, and the environmental production the ability to resist twisting as a result of winds. The Burj
and conservation of resources [5]. There is even currently a Khalifa was constructed in Dubai where the average wind
study that is looking at replacing cement in concrete more and speed over fifty years has been just over twenty-two miles per
more with the more flexural fly ash, testing its behaviors in hour. For the Burj Khalifa to stand at a height where no other
certain support beams and other structural uses [5]. In the structure has ever been built it would need to have a design
buttressed core the fly ash is a key component and is even where the resistance of the natural act to twist in the high
growing more popular in the entire world of construction. winds is fought against. The buttressed core is what allows
Another key component in the construction of the the structure to stand at the height of over 800 meters in the
buttressed core is its intriguing design. The buttressed core is air [7]. The three wings use each other to build that strength.
designed in such a way that it makes it perfect for constructing If one wing is feeing the force of the winds, the other two
such amazingly tall heights. One of the major issues when it wings act as supports to help keep it from twisting. This
comes to constructing buildings that challenge the heights of design is perfect to have the Burj Khalifa stand at such a mind-
the tallest in the world is the wind. At very tall altitudes the boggling height without twisting on itself.
wind can be so strong at times that it causes the structure itself All these components of the buttressed core gives
to sway and this can be very dangerous if engineers do not use structures like the Burj Khalifa a very efficient structure for
the correct type of structures wen building these huge the fact that the gravity load resistant system is utilized so it
buildings. For instance the Burj Khalifa that is known to all can maximize its use in resisting the lateral forces like that of
as the tallest building in the world, as stated earlier uses the the incredible wind gusts. On the top of the Burj Khalifa there
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering April 14, 2012
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Chase Smthurst
Billy
Green
fadf
is about a 230-meter tall spire and the complete structure of skyscrapers to stand at such tall heights for these long periods
the tower founded on a 3700-meter thick reinforced concrete of time [4].
pile supported raft foundation [6]. As stated earlier in this article Dubai is one of the leaders
Constructing the buttressed core involves very precise and in the world of designing theses structural super giants. Dubai
exact measurements, like every other part of a well bit is located in the Middle East and is one of the richest places
structure it takes much time and effort to be able to construct on earth. Dubai is beginning to be mentioned with the major
such an integral part of a skyscraper [7]. Every step in the cities of the world as it grows and will continue to grow. They
process of constructing the buttressed core is a key to its do not shy away from the possibility of designing new super
success and holds all the answers to how it allows such structures and do not see a reason to not continue to build
amazing structural power for these ‘super’ skyscrapers that these amazing feats of structural engineering. Though the
are reaching new heights every day. Giving structures the United States is not quite as rich per capita as the likes of the
amazing ability to both resist the vertical force of gravity as United Arab Emirates but it still has its fair share of
well as having the lateral strength to resist the force of the skyscrapers. The United States continues to have the most
wind. popular cities in the world with there own signature buildings,
though they may not be as tall as the newest skyscrapers, they
SKYSCRAPERS OF T HE FUTURE still hold significance. Dubai is still far off from being known
as the New York City of the Middle East but it is making good
The need for the buttressed core and innovations like it will process building larger and more extravagant buildings by the
continue to grow as our society moves further into the future. day.
It seems as if every few years there is a newer and taller The amazing thing is what it is doing for the economy.
skyscraper being built. These skyscrapers are something that What skyscrapers of this magnitude do, especially when they
every country wants, every year making our cities larger and are the tallest building in the world, is draw attention to your
more attractive to draw business whether it be a tourist area no matter where it is. People go to Dubai from all over
attraction or a skyscraper used for offices. What the buttressed the world to visit the amazing Burj Khalifa as well as their
core allows is the construction of the building in the quickest other attractions. In the base of the hotel alone are more than
and most effective way possible. a few hotels, which are some of the most extravagant in the
With the use of the buttressed core the current tallest world. There was even a recent movie shot, which had scenes
building in the world known as the Burj Khalifa was able to shot in and around the Burj Khalifa and Dubai. The structure
go up much higher than its predecessor the Taipei 101 [8]. itself has done so much for the area that it is hard to dispute
The Burj Khalifa is over 300 meters taller than the previous the fact that Dubai would be anywhere near as popular had it
number one [3]. not been for the tallest building in the world. Skyscrapers not
That amazing statistic gives you a look at how much the only give the city that amazing scenery and a view no one can
buttressed core adds to the heights of these buildings. Not ever forget but it also gives the people and the economy
only do these new skyscrapers get put up faster, they are around the area and amazing boost too.
constructed in a much quicker time. The design of the
buttressed core allows to be put up in a much faster time CIVIL ENGINEERING INNOVATION
period because of how it can be oriented. For buildings to
reach those heights that have never been thought possible, There are so many ways that the buttressed core has helped
engineers and those who help construct and pay for the all civil engineers look at structures differently. It gives
construction of the skyscrapers need the most cost effective engineers the opportunity to expand and push the boundaries
and structurally sound innovations, both of which the of what we have come to believe are the limits of our
buttressed core can provide. structural ability. As engineers we continue to look for ways
In Dubai the construction of the Burj Khalifa itself has which we can help improve the way which we construct our
helped the economy boom. Within the amazing skyscraper buildings and begin to build the structures of the future which
there are many different attraction ranging from many hotels reach new heights every day.
to the worlds highest nightclub as well as some residential The key to help building our future is to have future
apartments. It is economic advantages like those of the Burj engineers who push themselves to discover these new
Khalifa that have countries all over the world building taller techniques that give us the opportunity to both achieve new
and more impressive buildings. things and help our society grow in such a way that is
What the buttressed core provides that no other structural prosperous for the future. These days every year it seems like
innovation can provide is such and effective way to reach a new technology rises up that is the next big thing, and for
these incredible heights as well giving the building such the civil engineering world right now that big thing is the
incredible rigidity and the lateral strength that allows these buttressed core. The designer of the buttressed core and the

University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering April 14, 2012
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Chase Smthurst
Billy
Green
fadf
one who receives most of the credit for its introduction into himself said back then that “If somebody really wanted to do
the structural world is William Baker [1]. the world’s tallest building, this would be the way to go.”
William Baker is known as one of the premier engineers After the story goes on and William Baker completed the
in the world and many give him the title as the King of Super Burj Khalifa and it became the world’s tallest building back
Stable Structures. He has designed many large famous in 2009. The buttressed core has given so much already to the
buildings that include the Sears Tower in Chicago, the Time field of civil engineering. Giving structural engineers all over
Warner Center in New York, and many other amazing the world the opportunity to have a hand in building these
skyscrapers all over the world [1]. As an engineer, many super structures. The buttressed core’s combination of
consider him as one of the premier engineers in the world. He unmatched strength and lightness gives it an amazing quality
is currently working on his next big product in Las Vegas, that no other structural design has. Today Baker still works on
Nevada. This project is known as the Crown Las Vegas Resort taller and taller buildings and continues to use his famous
and Casino, it will be constructed to an amazing 1,888 feet design. For all civil engineers this structural design of the
and could include what could be the world’s highest gaming buttressed core gives us the opportunity to literally reach for
room. Being one of the most important structural engineers in the skies.
the world, his main contribution has been the buttressed core.
Baker currently has more towers constructed over 1000 ft REFERENCES
than that of any engineer in history [1]. For a society that is
racing to win the battle over the skyline of the planet, and [1] - Andrew Blum (2007, November 27) “Engineer Bill Baker Is the King
ultimately the bragging rights of having the tallest buildings of Superstable 150-Story Structures” Wired [Online] Available:
in the world, countries all over the world are getting in contact http://www.wired.com/culture/design/magazine/15-
with William Baker to construct more and more buildings. 12/mf_baker?currentPage=all#
Before Baker became the famous engineer he is today, as [2] - William F. Baker (2010, March 1) “Reaching for the Heavens” The Burj
an up and coming engineer he sat in his office, like many Khalifa Triumphs [Online]. Available:
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super tall buildings. He looked at three main ideas and 4121-a6ee-9eb3b639782c%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=111
problems and looked for ways to solve them. Calculating and [3] - Hasan. (2008 October) “Ten Tallest Buildings in the World” Info Blog
talking about as you increase the height of a building, its [Online] Available: http://www.dirjournal.com/info/ten-tallest-buildings-in-
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incredible wind speeds become a large reason for a building
[4] - Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (2010) “Buttressed Core Central System
to topple over. William Baker looked closely at the problem for Burj Khalifa” World Buildings Directory [Online] Available:
of costs and he said that the amount of money that is lost http://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/project.cfm?id=2618
during additional and unnecessary construction time adds up
to a very large amount at the end of the project [6]. The third [5] - Sunilla George (2011) “Flexural Behavior of Activated Fly Ash
Concrete” International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology
problem being how hard it is to actually fill up these super tall [Online] Available:
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[6] - J. Sheath. (2010, August). "Fly ash used in the construction of the world's
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Baker and his team at his engineering firm known as b0817ae10345%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=127&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZW
Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill, simply known as SOM, were hvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bth&AN=60640952
designing a new “Y”-like design which would increase the [7] - Peter A. Irwin, William F. Baker, Stan Korista, Peter A. Weismantle,
amount of windows per apartment. After the plans of that first and Lawrence C. Novak. “The Burj Dubai Tower”. Structure Magazine.
building never reached potential Baker was still able to see [Online Magazine] Available: http://www.structuremag.org/Archives/2006-
how amazingly strong the design was and yet very light at the 11/F-Burj-Dubai-Tower-Irwin-etal-Nov_06.pdf
same time. He saw that each of the wings acted as support for [8] - Sarah Dowdey (N/A) “What’s the New Tallest Building in the World”
the other two wings. He realized just how effective this would How Stuff Works [Online] Available:
be against the winds at super tall heights [1]. http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/burj-dubai.htm
In the amazing “Y”–design Baker so the solution to all of
his previous problems see that if you were to orient the
buttressed core in such a way that it would be vertically ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
strong, and by connecting each of the different wings of the
Y-shape to a very strong central core the twisting and swaying We would like to thank all the workers at the library who helped us find and
of the building would be significantly reduced [1]. Baker acquire this information. We’d also like to thank our friend and families who
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering April 14, 2012
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Chase Smthurst
Billy
Green
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have helped give us the tools to study and work hard to become engineering
majors. This paper would not have happened without them.

University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering April 14, 2012
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