Influencing factors and mechanisms of super high-rise buildings safety risks: A Fuzzy-DEMATEL-AISM analysis

• Developed multi-dimension theoretical framework for super high-rise building risks. • Identified key influencing factors/pathways for super high-rise building structural risks. • Introduced multi-factor, full-lifecycle strategy for refined risk management. As global urbanization accelerates, super high-rise buildings increasingly face critical safety challenges due to mid-life vulnerabilities that can cause casualties and economic losses. This study examines two typical risk systems in super high-rise buildings—primary structure damage and building envelope detachment—to address urban risks and emerging safety management needs. Through a mixed-methods approach, we developed a theoretical framework based on "environmental pressure - building physical condition - management response" relationships. Using literature analysis and the Delphi method, we established two comprehensive risk indicator systems and analyzed their interaction mechanisms using fuzzy DEMATEL-AISM. Our findings reveal that root-level environmental pressures (e.g., seismic activity, wind/snow loads) trigger structural disasters, while intermediate-level building physical conditions mediate these pressures and management responses, forming core disaster pathways. Management factors influence safety outcomes throughout a building’s lifecycle by operating across both root and result levels, with significant feedback loops in both risk systems. Based on these findings, we propose four integrated management strategies: root-level environmental pressure monitoring for early prevention; efficient identification of physical defects from surface damage; full-lifecycle risk management with specialized operations and maintenance; and collaborative diagnostics driven by loop factor assessment. This research bridges engineering perspectives and safety management, offering stakeholders—including building owners of super high-rise buildings, government authorities, and design professionals—practical approaches to enhance safety for millions of inhabitants while contributing a comprehensive theoretical framework for risk analysis.