Operational Modal Analysis of a Tower with Mixed Structure Under Construction in Cali, Colombia

Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) has found various applications, including the assessment of dynamic properties at different stages of the construction process of a given structure. While this kind of application is more frequent in the case of bridges, OMA of buildings under construction is gaining interest. This study applies OMA to one of four towers designed for the expansion of a Shopping Center in Cali, Colombia. The tower, consisting of eleven floors and employing a mixed structural system involving steel frames, prestressed slabs, and shear walls, is the subject of investigation. OMA was conducted at 60% of the construction process (covering 7 floors) to check that the observed dynamic behavior closely aligns with the characteristics established during the structural design phase. In this regard, the dynamic properties collected from the tower are compared to the results of finite element models and discussed.