Construction Product and Process Technologies - Assignment Example

Construction Product and Process Technologies 26 July Since the Structural Engineer proposes the use of an in-situ concrete frame for this project there will be implications relating to the construction speed, availability of resources and logistics. In-situ reinforcement concrete structural frames are commonly employed as frames for multi-storey office buildings. i. Speed of construction The use of an in-situ concrete frame will provide flexibility that may improve the speed with which the project is being carried out. In-situ reinforcement concrete can also be casted into various shapes and designs by using an appropriate formwork. This improves efficiency and the possibility of customising the available design solutions to fit specific construction problems, thereby increasing the speed of construction in this project. Using an in-situ concrete frame for this project will lead to speedier construction and thus a reduction in construction costs and faster revenue generation. ii. Availability of resources (materials, labour, plant and equipment) The use of an in-situ concrete frame for this project is advisable, since in-situ concrete is widely used for construction projects and the materials for such a frame are readily available (Riley & Cotgrave 2009). This availability of resources (i.e. materials, manpower, plants and equipment) also enables better aesthetics and cost efficiency for the project. iii. Logistics. The engineer’s decision to use an in-situ concrete frame for this project is a sound one logistically because the concrete can be readily obtained from many locations. Using an in-situ concrete frame here is appropriate as such a frame will be economical because of its longevity and facilitation of the construction process. The in-situ concrete used for making the frame is also recyclable, as old concrete frames can be reused as aggregate for new concrete mixtures (Barry 1996). An in-situ concrete frame would be a more economical choice for the project because of its longevity and construction facilitation. 2. Using in-situ concrete flat slabs for the floors in association with an in-situ concrete frame for this project will yield good results as described below: i. The chosen floor provides the necessary sound and fire resistance to a high degree. In-situ concrete flat slabs for the floors will enable a high degree of fire resistance and fire proofing in the construction project since in situ concrete is originally fire-resistant as well having no need for any additional treatment for fire protection and the required structural qualities at the same time (Chudley 1999). ii. In-situ concrete flat slabs floors provide an economic and efficient production method. In-situ concrete flat slabs floors enable design flexibility and so the floor slabs can be casted into various design shapes with the use of the suitable formwork. This flexibility results in the ability for customized design solutions that will fit the specific challenges faced for this particular building project and enables aesthetic finishing that nullifies the need for any further finishes for the floors. Using in-situ concrete slabs for the floor will enable an efficient and economic method of production, as in-situ concrete slabs are cost efficient and aesthetically pleasing. In-situ concrete slabs possess high strength, low maintenance requirements and long-term durability. The slabs will also provide a competitive construction solution due to their high energy efficiency and long-term economic advantages. In-situ concrete slabs also enable the engineer to have a wide range of structural design options. 3. Leaving the underside of the concrete slabs (as in number 2 above) and the services exposed will have some advantages and disadvantages during the production stage and throughout the life of the building. Advantages Increased speed of construction Shorter duration of construction can be achieved, as well as the possibility of building of structural frames economically. Possibility of making any alternations or adjustments to the design during the building construction process. Significant reduction of plant and labour on the site. Disadvantages May be labour intensive, thereby leading to a situation where higher amounts of plant and labour are required on the site. On the other hand, concealing the underside of the concrete slabs above a suspended ceiling will also have some advantages as well as disadvantages. Advantages Higher quality control Disadvantages Impossibility of carrying out any adjustments or amendments to the underside of the concrete structure during installation. 4. Proposed Falsework and formwork system for the casting of the floors to the structural frame discussed in number 1 above. i. The proposed falsework and formwork system for the casting of the floors to the structural frame discussed in number 1 above is a traditional wood post-and-beam formwork/shoring system. The description of this system as provided here is an adaptation of the system described by Jensen (1986). For this system, the deck (slab) forms will be supported on shores that are placed on the lower slabs. These shores can be single posts of wood (Jensen 1986). This falsework and formwork system for the casting of the floors to the structural frame will achieve the required degree of accuracy for the project, since allowance will be made for sideways pressures like stacked materials, wind, and the formwork being struck by crane loads and other machinery, as well as taking care of weight support. ii. In a building project like this, the structural frame is one of the most important aspects that must be considered even before embarking on the construction. It is therefore critical to the success of the project to evaluate the criteria for selecting the appropriate building materials and structural frames (Stroud & Harington 1994). In order to ensure structural safety during the project as well as satisfactory performance, it is also important to have a good understanding of the construction loads on the concrete slabs and frames from an early stage (Low, Tadros & Nijhawan 1991). There are several features that are to be included in the proposed falsework and formwork above in order to reduce the risks to the health and safety of the operatives in the project to an acceptable level. These include the use of sheer walls, tube-in-tube structures and braced tube structures. Sheer walls are employed for the provision of stability in multi-storey buildings due to the fact that lateral loads in this kind of project will usually be a very dominant factor in the planning and design of the building as a whole. Tube-in-tube structures are used in catering to drift and acceleration for the assessment of the stability of the building. Braced tube structures are to be used for adding re-shores on the lower levels to reduce and redistribute big constructional loads on the floor to the other lower levels of the building. Bibliography Barry, R. (1996) The Construction of Buildings: Multi Storey Buildings, Foundations, Steel Frames, Concrete Frames, Flooring and Wall Cladding, 4th edition. London: Blackwell Science. Stroud Foster, J. & Harington, R. (1994) Mitchells Structure and Fabric. 5th edition. Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman Limited Jensen, D. A., (1986) Choosing a Forming System for Concrete Floors and Roof. Concrete Construction, 81, (1) pp. 5-12. Riley, M. & Cotgrave, A. (2009) Construction Technology 2: Industrial & Commercial Building, Second Edition. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Chudley, R. (1999) Construction Technology. Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman Limited. Low, S., Tadros, M. K., & Nijhawan, J. C. (1991) A new framing system for multi-story buildings. Concrete International, 13 (9), 54-57. Read More