Wind tests completed for $1bn Dubai tower

Davina Munro

8 years ago

Emaar Properties has announced the successful completion of advanced wind tunnel tests to confirm the structural strength and durability of its $1bn tower being built at Dubai Creek Habour.

The Tower, designed by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, is to be the centrepiece of the new masterplanned community, and is expected to be 100m taller than the Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building.

With the weather being a major challenge in the development of high-rises, wind tunnel tests are important at the structural design stage as they help in defining the final height and design aspects of a project.

Emaar said these wind tunnel tests are made for the entirety of the project with a scaled model, and also on different sections of the project to double-check the behaviour of the building and the wind around it.

A wind climate study of the area covered measurements at different heights including data provided by the weather stations. Different seismic studies were also considered and applied specifically to local ground conditions.

The design of The Tower also includes multiple damper systems and shock absorption systems, located at different points and heights.

Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “An ambitious project on a never-before scale and design, The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour demands high-precision engineering across all its facets. As a significant value addition to Dubai Creek Harbour, the tower is billed to attract visitors from across the world, and will serve as a beacon of hope and positivity for the city and the region. Pushing the boundaries in high-rise engineering even further, The Tower’s wind tunnel tests are an industry-first of sorts, underlining our commitment to uphold the highest standards of safety.”

Calatrava, the architect, added: “From the materials selection to the technology used, every aspect of The Tower has been designed and developed according to the strictest international safety standards. The wind tunnel tests were an important component in the structural design stage, and we have deployed innovative engineering techniques to confirm the strength of the new icon.”