Structural Design of Office Building Using Seismic Suppression System with Monitor

Modern buildings are expected to meet a diverse range of performance requirements, with safety, security, environmental considerations, long-life and planning flexibility all regarded as important. A new seismic response control system called "TASMO" (for TAisei Smart suppression system with MOnitor) has been developed to deliver such performance improvements. The structural elements that absorb seismic energy are completely separated from the parts supporting the vertical load.

Steel dampers and oil dampers are incorporated as energy-dissipating seismic response control devices that, in the case of an earthquake, absorb the seismic energy. Excellent seismic performance is obtained while a new type of architectural framework is realized as well.

This paper gives an outline of this new system, describes its application to an office building and explains the structural design, in which the building's structural system is designed to harmonize with the architectural external walls. By adopting pre-stressed concrete technology to complement the new response control system, open office spaces without columns are achieved. Further, a monitoring system is provided to allow for checking of the energy dissipation devices and the building as a whole from a distance. The result is an office building that offers a long lifetime with flexible space utilization.