• Question: With reference to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (tallest building in the world )at 828mts, I have a few questions? How do engineers know that this building will not fall over when it is so high ? Does it sway in high winds? Lastly what are the main materials used for buildings like this?

    Asked by rt123 to Canice on 10 Mar 2020.
    • Photo: Canice Coogan

      Canice Coogan answered on 10 Mar 2020:


      Overturning check, so the wind loading acting on the structure must be less than the restoring moments. This would include the weight of the foundation, the stability of the ground, friction, cohesion of the soil etc. We would also need t include a safety factor of between 1.5 and 2 to ensure that it would not turn over, even in exceptional circumstances.

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