Mega-tall buildings: current trends, challenges and future prospects

摘要

This paper focuses on mega-tall buildings that are distinguished from other skyscrapers by their height, which is 600 m or more. The construction of mega-tall buildings is a twenty-first-century phenomenon, representing the pinnacle of modern building engineering. The construction of the first mega-tall building, Burj Khalifa, was commenced in 2004 and was completed in 2010. Since then, three mega-tall buildings have been completed worldwide, and only a few are under construction. Thus, despite rapid urbanization across the world, the development of mega-tall buildings remains limited. This disparity highlights the need for a comprehensive study on the topic, which is currently lacking in the existing literature. The present study aims to fill the gap. It presents case studies of completed mega-tall buildings, examining key engineering aspects while analysing current trends, prevailing challenges, and future prospects in the field. Additionally, it investigates ongoing and proposed mega-tall building projects. The study identified two principal findings: (i) the construction of mega-tall buildings entails significant financial investment, necessitating robust economic justification, which may be challenging in volatile market conditions; and (ii) the development and operation of such structures are further complicated by critical issues, including structural complexities, fire safety, environmental sustainability, structural health monitoring, and maintenance, all of which demand innovative and expensive solutions. This study also underscores the transformative potential of emerging technologies, including eco-friendly materials, renewable energy systems, advanced vibration control mechanisms, artificial intelligence, and robotics, in advancing the sustainable development of future mega-tall buildings.