Revolutionary skyscraper

The race to build skyscrapers is getting a new boost, thanks to the emergence of super-strong cables capable of pulling elevators to break all current record heights.

The revolutionary new technological breakthrough promises to lift skyscrapers to double in the near future, after elevator researchers have successfully invented a super-strong carbon fiber rope. , replace traditional steel cable to lift ladders. The upper cable, called UltraRope , is a research project of Kone (Finland), which is 7 times lighter than a steel cable, and can extend the length of an elevator shaft to exceed 1km, ie eat off the world's tallest building, now Burj Khalifa in Dubai, 828m high. This invention is supposed to be able to change skyscraper communities around the world, and by raising the height of the present, it will create more living space for the booming urban population. .

Race of skyscrapers - (Photo: The Malaysia Insider)

The Financial Times quoted Antony Wood, architect and CEO of the High-Rise Council and urban living environment, expressing his eagerness to hear about the new breakthrough.'We have finally made a breakthrough for one of the' holy grail ', which limits the height of skyscrapers. That's the height a single elevator can operate before the weight of the steel cable is no longer sufficient to support that height , 'he explained. Therefore, do not exaggerate when judging that this is a revolution. However, not only achieving high enough to break all records, the emergence of carbon fiber cables brings enough benefits in terms of energy and materials. 'What excites me is the effectiveness of UltraRope, not just the ability to break through the height,' Wood said.

For years, engineers have dreamed about a prospect of designing vast skyscrapers, but their ambitions are seriously damaged by the weight of steel cables used to lift and lower lifts. Meanwhile, UltraRope is said to possess the power of steel cables while being much lighter. When buildings are built higher, more steel cables are needed to move elevators safely. However, at a 500m elevation lift, up to three-quarters of the main energy used goes to cables. 500m is also the current maximum height because if the cables are made longer, they will collapse under their own weight.

Meanwhile, carbon fiber cables can reduce weight by about 90% compared to steel cables. In the case of 400m elevators, the weight of steel cable is nearly 19 tons, but carbon fiber cable is just over 10 tons, according to Johannes de Jong, Kone's product and technology director. The limit of weight combined with steel means that the energy needed to operate will increase tremendously with height. In the case of new cables, these factors have been adjusted to reduce the amount of energy needed.

It is known that the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah is looking at the location of the tallest building in the world, expected to be completed in 2019 and 1km higher. Meanwhile, the skyscraper race in Asia continues to heat up, with Shanghai next year completing the world's second tallest building (compared to the current record), ie the 121st floor Shanghai Tower, 632m high. According to the High-Rise Council and urban living environment, there are currently more than 20 buildings over 600m under construction around the world, and this number will also increase to serve the expansion of human population.