minimize wind effects. As mentioned above, this
workers and materials to the required heights.
process resulted in a substantial reduction in wind
Because of limitations of conventional surveying
forces on the tower by confusing the wind — by
techniques, a specialized GPS monitoring system
encouraging disorganized vortex shedding over the
has been developed to monitor the verticality of the
height of the tower. The wind tunnel testing program
structure.
included rigid-model force balance tests, a full aeroelastic model study, measurements of localized
pressures, and pedestrian wind environment studies.
An extensive program of wind tunnel tests and other
The construction sequence for the structure has the
central core and slabs being cast first, in three
sections; the wing walls and slabs follow behind; and
the wing nose columns and slabs follow behind
studies resulted in a
these. Concrete is
substantial reduction in
distributed to each wing
wind forces on the tower by
utilizing concrete booms
confusing the wind.
that are attached to the
Construction methods and
technology
The Burj Dubai Tower
utilizes the latest
advancements in
construction techniques
and material technology.
The walls are formed using
Doka’s SKE 100 automatic
self-climbing formwork
system. The circular nose
jump form system. Two of
the largest concrete pumps
in the world were used to
deliver concrete to heights
over 600 m (1,968 feet) in a
single stage. A horizontal
pumping trial was
conducted prior to the start
of the superstructure
construction to ensure
pumpability of the concrete
mixes.
columns are formed with
circular steel forms, and the
floor slabs are poured on
MevaDec panel formwork.
Wall reinforcement is
prefabricated on the ground
to allow for fast placement. Three primary selfclimbing Favco tower cranes are located adjacent to
the central core, with each continuing to various
heights as required. The cranes have been specially
modified to be able to lift the extreme lengths of
cable required, as well as 25-metric-tonne (27.5-ton)
payloads, at high speeds. High-speed (120-m/minute,
393-foot/minute), high-capacity (3,200-kg, 7,050pound) construction hoists were used to transport
Conclusion
Burj Dubai Tower has
eclipsed all previous height
records, and is the tallest structure ever built. It
represents an enormous collaboration and
coordination effort of many individuals across all
sectors of the building profession. Conventional and
cutting-edge technologies and building systems were
utilized, developed, and further advanced to create
this unprecedented structure, taking this building and
the profession to literally new heights.