The Effect of Building Irregularities on the Structural Performance of Air Traffic Control Towers in High Seismic Zones

Abstract

This study examines the seismic performance of slender Air Traffic Control (ATC) towers in high‑hazard regions (PGA > 0.4g), where vertical taper, torsional eccentricity, and top‑heavy cab mass can significantly increase drift, base shear, and collapse risk relative to conventional buildings. Existing studies often rely on linear procedures and outdated provisions, leading to underestimation of nonlinear behaviour and limited guidance for ATC towers designed to SNI 1726:2019. The research aims to quantify these irregularity effects and formulate design recommendations that satisfy Immediate Occupancy, Life Safety, and Collapse Prevention performance targets. The methodology couples response spectrum analysis, using a site‑specific Padang spectrum consistent with SNI 1726:2019 and ASCE 7‑16, with nonlinear pushover analysis interpreted through FEMA/ATC performance‑based criteria. A parametric study is performed on three cab configurations small, medium, and large modelled as 5%, 15%, and 25% mass ratios at the tower head, while keeping a 10 m × 10 m hybrid core–frame shaft constant. Results indicate that larger cab mass produces systematic but moderate increases in global displacement, story drift, and base shear, while plastic hinges localize primarily in the upper stories and cab‑support region, yielding performance levels from Immediate Occupancy to Collapse Prevention. Overall, the tower meets code drift limits and acceptable performance if local strengthening is provided around the shaft–cab interface, offering a calibrated reference for top‑heavy ATC tower design in Indonesian high‑seismic settings and identifying priorities for future time‑history and soil–structure interaction studies.