Above is an early plan of my detail.
Here's how it turned out..
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
DETAIL!
For the 1:1 detail, i think i have researched enough of hollowcore floor plank technology to feel comfortable with modelling it at life size. there are several options.
This shows a pre-cast concrete beam with reinforced concrete column. The beam is shaped in a way to allow appropriate bearing for the floor planks.
Alternatively, i can design the building with steel intersecting with the pcp planks instead. Which is probably more suitable to the project requirements. will need to find out minimum depth of the steel beam though as no dimensions are specified in the hollow core detailing manual
This shows a pre-cast concrete beam with reinforced concrete column. The beam is shaped in a way to allow appropriate bearing for the floor planks.
Alternatively, i can design the building with steel intersecting with the pcp planks instead. Which is probably more suitable to the project requirements. will need to find out minimum depth of the steel beam though as no dimensions are specified in the hollow core detailing manual
Denny Lacelles renovation
I was directed to visit the Wycombe construction group office of this project right at school on the fourth level by Peter Healy from Hollowcore as an example for the technology. These were the few photos I could take from the side of site as I was not allowed on.
This addition to the building is made entirely of pre-cast members, including hollowcore floor in conjunction with pc beams and columnns.
Sprinkler system is pre-installed. The planks in use here are 300 deep, four core type.
the construction office was very helpful in letting me access documentation drawings that has been really helpful for research and member specifications. I might be modelling my own assignment on the span length and floor planks in this project. I also have been looking at connection details, made up by the engineer. Unfortunately, i can't post them here as they are confidential.
This addition to the building is made entirely of pre-cast members, including hollowcore floor in conjunction with pc beams and columnns.
Sprinkler system is pre-installed. The planks in use here are 300 deep, four core type.
the construction office was very helpful in letting me access documentation drawings that has been really helpful for research and member specifications. I might be modelling my own assignment on the span length and floor planks in this project. I also have been looking at connection details, made up by the engineer. Unfortunately, i can't post them here as they are confidential.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Composite construction in office building
Another building site, this time, compiste construction used in multi-level office complex in North Richmond
Address: Elizabeth St Richmond
A view of the pre-cast concrete shaft that forms a part fo the structure. The ferrules have been covered up, and the panels have been sealed at the joints.
Detail view of end of suspended composite floor. It is trimmed with a pre-cast beam butting directly up against the pre-cast concrete wall. The permanent steel form-work is apparent here. As well as how it relates to future services such as drainage (pipe allowance) and fire sprinklers (red pipe).
Architect: Unknown
Builder: Hickory
Overview of project. The vertical lines of columns can be seen running all the way up the building. For each floor there is a balcony level.
Safety railing is still in place. The photo is a bit dark, but this building uses a steel tray type platform for its floors. (Eg. 'Bondek).
A closer look at the same facade . The floors butt right up against the pre-cast concrete panel shaft on the right, suggesting it is load bearing.
A better view of the columns and the beam the concrete beam they connect to that runs along the whole building. This photo also clearly shows the underside of the floors, made of Bondek.
All this would be covered by the interior fit out, including suspended ceiling.
A view of the pre-cast concrete shaft that forms a part fo the structure. The ferrules have been covered up, and the panels have been sealed at the joints.Detail view of end of suspended composite floor. It is trimmed with a pre-cast beam butting directly up against the pre-cast concrete wall. The permanent steel form-work is apparent here. As well as how it relates to future services such as drainage (pipe allowance) and fire sprinklers (red pipe).
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Steel construction
I am using steel construction to intersect with pcp flooring in my office building.
Some things:
Engineered details of flexible steel connections. There are many configurations. I've found Francis Ching's Illustrated construction book is also quite comprehensive in connection options, Especially now when i am trying to resolve the connection between beam and column.
This is an example of a shop drawing for a portal frame that i found on the OneSteel website.
Above, photos i have received from Wycombe of existing part of the Denny Lacelles building. Important references are the structrual steel thats been added.
Some things:
Engineered details of flexible steel connections. There are many configurations. I've found Francis Ching's Illustrated construction book is also quite comprehensive in connection options, Especially now when i am trying to resolve the connection between beam and column.
This is an example of a shop drawing for a portal frame that i found on the OneSteel website.
Above, photos i have received from Wycombe of existing part of the Denny Lacelles building. Important references are the structrual steel thats been added.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Pre-Cast Concrete Construction Site
This is an office development by an unknown architect located on La Trobe Terrace, Geelong. I'll get back on the exact address.
It is a load-bearing pre-cast concrete structure. This structure is used for support along the bondary walls for a curtain-wall facade of glass that will cover the front, street-facing facades. This is what I gathered from the artist's impression.
Overview of the site from across the road:
View of the site from the inside, including internal pcp walls. They are being propped up, with the props resting on the strip footings on the ground. Steel bars are protuding out of the strip footings in preperation for future connections. In the meantime, they are capped with yellow plastic for safety.
You can start seeing servicing already coming up from the ground, especially plumbing. Infill concrete slab beyond.
Side pcp wall. They have not been joined yet and are still being propped up. Each panel is about 1400 wide.
The other side of the same stretch of wall. Shows the proppping in particular, which is directly bolted to walls and evenly distributed at the same height.
The base of a wall panel on the boundary of the site. There is a space 50 mm space, allowing for space to work and finishing floor to be poured later. Importantly, you can see the shim on which the wall rests in order to make accurate placement of the panel easier. It will remain under the panel and have conrete poured over later.
A close up of the ferrule on the pcp that the crane would have hooked onto during installation. This will be covered up flush with the wall surface later.
This view shows the base of the wall. IN this particular section of the building, it is dug down quite deep into the natural ground. Youc an also see where the strip footings end. It is hard to understand why then would not run underneath the wall themselves and it is not clear what the walls are acutally standing on currently!
PCP with doorway is possible. Note here a control join occurs at the opening as it is a place of weakness, esp during movment.
It is a load-bearing pre-cast concrete structure. This structure is used for support along the bondary walls for a curtain-wall facade of glass that will cover the front, street-facing facades. This is what I gathered from the artist's impression.
Overview of the site from across the road:
View of the site from the inside, including internal pcp walls. They are being propped up, with the props resting on the strip footings on the ground. Steel bars are protuding out of the strip footings in preperation for future connections. In the meantime, they are capped with yellow plastic for safety.
You can start seeing servicing already coming up from the ground, especially plumbing. Infill concrete slab beyond.
Side pcp wall. They have not been joined yet and are still being propped up. Each panel is about 1400 wide.
The other side of the same stretch of wall. Shows the proppping in particular, which is directly bolted to walls and evenly distributed at the same height.
The base of a wall panel on the boundary of the site. There is a space 50 mm space, allowing for space to work and finishing floor to be poured later. Importantly, you can see the shim on which the wall rests in order to make accurate placement of the panel easier. It will remain under the panel and have conrete poured over later.
A close up of the ferrule on the pcp that the crane would have hooked onto during installation. This will be covered up flush with the wall surface later.
This view shows the base of the wall. IN this particular section of the building, it is dug down quite deep into the natural ground. Youc an also see where the strip footings end. It is hard to understand why then would not run underneath the wall themselves and it is not clear what the walls are acutally standing on currently!
PCP with doorway is possible. Note here a control join occurs at the opening as it is a place of weakness, esp during movment.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Timber portal frames
Just thinking about construction types I can use for the major assignment. This article is an example of a church built with this method. I think it achieves a very beautiful effect when the portals are exposed. The use of timber is also encouragable for its environmental benefits.
However, it seems timber portal frames are not so widespread currently. They are an engineered product and each building is one-off as opposed to being quickly commercially designed and produced as is the case with steel portal frames. AS a result, infomration is scarce in comparison.
Go to http://www.timber.org.au/NTEP/resources/08s.pdf for the pdf article.
This building uses LVL portals which can be quite heavy and deep but the effects of the layering is attractive and the strenght of LVL combined overcomes the smaller inevitable defects of each layer.
However, it seems timber portal frames are not so widespread currently. They are an engineered product and each building is one-off as opposed to being quickly commercially designed and produced as is the case with steel portal frames. AS a result, infomration is scarce in comparison.
Go to http://www.timber.org.au/NTEP/resources/08s.pdf for the pdf article.
This building uses LVL portals which can be quite heavy and deep but the effects of the layering is attractive and the strenght of LVL combined overcomes the smaller inevitable defects of each layer.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
I'm not sure what this building is but for reference, it is on Gordon Ave, Geelong West, between Hwy and Pakington street.
It is the first example I have visited so far that uses a steel portal frame that occurs only in the roof and is bolted directly onto load bearing pcp walls, instead of the walls just being a non-loadbearing envelope system.
Overview of the site:
The structure is very clear to understand from this view. You can see the roof beams that end at the walls. The purlins and roof bracing have been installed. PCP walls have been used as a entrance feature. AT that point, the roof beam is broken up.
View of the floor structure. Possibly existing brick base with 200 thick concrete slab on top. Steel colunns run along the wall to support the first floor. It finishes neatly at the base where any column to floor connections have been covered over.
A closer view of the roofing with purlin and bracing clear. A lighter profile is achievable in the roof beams because they are broken up and joined end to end rather than being one long continuous span. Saves vertical space and material costs.
Interior, ground level. The suspended floor is composite construction, obvious by the use of perament steel tray formwork. This photo also demonstrates propping involved in this application, which is much less instrusive than the propping involved in an in-situ concrete pour.
It is the first example I have visited so far that uses a steel portal frame that occurs only in the roof and is bolted directly onto load bearing pcp walls, instead of the walls just being a non-loadbearing envelope system.
Overview of the site:
The structure is very clear to understand from this view. You can see the roof beams that end at the walls. The purlins and roof bracing have been installed. PCP walls have been used as a entrance feature. AT that point, the roof beam is broken up.
View of the floor structure. Possibly existing brick base with 200 thick concrete slab on top. Steel colunns run along the wall to support the first floor. It finishes neatly at the base where any column to floor connections have been covered over.
A closer view of the roofing with purlin and bracing clear. A lighter profile is achievable in the roof beams because they are broken up and joined end to end rather than being one long continuous span. Saves vertical space and material costs.
Interior, ground level. The suspended floor is composite construction, obvious by the use of perament steel tray formwork. This photo also demonstrates propping involved in this application, which is much less instrusive than the propping involved in an in-situ concrete pour.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Portal frames = so easy!!
In Australia, the mass manufacture of portal frames have not quite reached the popularity as other countries, such as USA. Still, it is common to use programs to provide complete structural solution. This video shows step-by-step the computer technology - Prokon -to formulate portal frame structures. This is due to the portal frame's inherent economy due to simple repetitive elements and the stiff form of the portal.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
New Construction Methods - how they merge.
This article is actually a review for the book "Surveyors' Guide to Modern Methods of Construction'. However it made me realise the path through which new methods of construction must go to be widely accepted.
With a shortage in housing and projected population boom, the development of 'more for less' construction techniques is inevitable. This is already evident in our study of the portal frame system in low rise, long span buildings. However, when new methods are introduced, 'they have at the same time been required to make the resulting dwellings resemble conventional construction as closely as possible'. That is, not only the representation of these designs, but the absorption of them into exisitng legal systems and standards.
Surveyors' Guide To Modern Methods Of Construction
With a shortage in housing and projected population boom, the development of 'more for less' construction techniques is inevitable. This is already evident in our study of the portal frame system in low rise, long span buildings. However, when new methods are introduced, 'they have at the same time been required to make the resulting dwellings resemble conventional construction as closely as possible'. That is, not only the representation of these designs, but the absorption of them into exisitng legal systems and standards.
Surveyors' Guide To Modern Methods Of Construction
As more and more dwellings are built using modern methods of construction (MMC), surveyors are increasingly being required to assess dwellings of markedly different construction to the conventional masonry structures they are used to. With this in mind the BRE Trust has published a pocket guide to MMC specifically for surveyors.
Modern methods of construction: A surveyor's guide introduces surveyors to the range of constructions currently being used, thereby enabling them to produce more meaningful and informed reports for their clients.
Keith Ross the author of the guide says, 'Pressure from Government to increase the rate of housing supply, a diminishing skills base and higher performance requirements for dwellings have resulted in the introduction of a wide range of innovative components and construction systems into house construction. The planning system, on the other hand, has remained conservative and in general has restricted the introduction of visually different finishes to the exterior of dwellings. The result has been that, while builders have begun to introduce innovative components and systems into their product, they have at the same time been required to make the resulting dwellings resemble conventional construction as closely as possible - it can be very confusing for surveyors.'
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sustainable use of Steel?
This article was sourced from the BlueScope Steel website, therefore there is an obvious agenda to sell BlueScope products. However, it is interesting to note where steel construction fits into the environmental conscious consumer.
In this Queensland home, steel sheeting was used for the watertank. Within the house itself, steel was used for roofing and was particularly a useful surface to fix polystyrene. This is probably due to its thin and light nature, therefore the polystyrene could probably be screwed to the cladding.
However, this was not very clear in the article, further highlighting that you should be careful of anybody claiming to offer sustainable solutions. In many cases, this is a marketing device and should be investigated further.
Innovation House at the Ecovillage in Currumbin uses COLORBOND® steel and has a 17,000 litre WATERPOINT CLASSIC® water tank.
In this Queensland home, steel sheeting was used for the watertank. Within the house itself, steel was used for roofing and was particularly a useful surface to fix polystyrene. This is probably due to its thin and light nature, therefore the polystyrene could probably be screwed to the cladding.
However, this was not very clear in the article, further highlighting that you should be careful of anybody claiming to offer sustainable solutions. In many cases, this is a marketing device and should be investigated further.
Sustainable Innovation
10 April 2008
Innovation House at the Ecovillage in Currumbin uses COLORBOND® steel and has a 17,000 litre WATERPOINT CLASSIC® water tank.| Location: | Currumbin, Queensland |
| Country: | Australia |
| Builder: | Landmatters |
| Products Used: | WATERPOINT® COLORBOND® steel |
| Awards: | Development Institute of Australia national award for Excellence in Sustainable Development |
Billed as the Gold Coast's most sustainable house, Innovation House 3 at the Ecovillage in Currumbin will be among the first homes in Australia to carry a five star building and energy rating.
The house has a 1.2kW photovoltaic solar power system, energy efficient fixtures and fittings, and an Ecovision resource system which monitors the consumption and supply of gas, energy and water. It is also fully water self sufficient, thanks in part to three 17,000 litre WATERPOINT CLASSIC® rural water tanks manufactured by BlueScope Water.
Stratco Corrugated Iron made from COLORBOND® steel is one of the featured wall cladding materials used, while the Ritek® Custom Roof Panels incorporate COLORBOND® steel for the lining of the roof and ceiling.
These layers are bonded together with an inner section of thermally efficient polystyrene, creating a roof system that significantly reduces the amount of heat radiated into the home. The external layer of COLORBOND® steel is in the colour Dune®, which helps deflect the hot Queensland sun.
"The concept behind the Ecovillage is sustainable living and development practices," Chris Walton, Managing Director of Ecovillage developer Landmatters, said. "It was important that every aspect of the home reflected this concept, and the Ecovillage is the perfect location to showcase such innovation."
Other best practices include using Australian made products and recycled products.
No PVC, chemical paints or toxic glues were used in the development. High ceilings were introduced for effective air flow, and 'clean' site construction processes were followed.
Ecovillage is a Queensland State Government initiative which has won several awards, including the Urban Development Institute of Australia national award for Excellence in Sustainable Development.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Article, The Age online
This article highlights the importance of safety on construction site. In this case, steel girders and scaffolding collapsed. The building project was further ravaged by the strong winds that followed that day in 2nd April. Such incidents can be avoided by good organisation and layout on site and not leaving jobs unfinished.
We've already touched upon some safety issues, including capping of protuding elements, safety mesh and common-sense in the running of a building site.Rigger dies in building site collapse
WorkSafe is investigating the death of a 47-year-old rigger on a building site in Melbourne's southeast this morning.
The workplace authority said it would look at structural and engineering issues after steel girders and scaffolding collapsed from a warehouse being built, crushing the Langwarrin man.
Although Melbourne is expecting 120km/h plus winds today, it is believed conditions were relatively calm when the man was killed at 7am in Dandenong South.
"Our priority is to make this site safe so there are no secondary incidents and our experts will determine the best way to do that," WorkSafe Construction and Utilities Director Chris Webb said.
"Our engineers and demolition people potentially may make a choice to pull it down to make it safe."
Three-quarters of the massive 100 metre by 200 metre warehouse has fallen down and the site has turned into a dust bowl as strong winds picked up.
It is owned by property developer Australand.
Graham Whedlock, a former co-worker and friend who helped build an adjacent warehouse, paid tribute to his mate who he called Johnny.
"He was a great guy, the best, he was always first to work each day and willing to help you," Mr Whedlock said.
"He was a keen fisherman, we used to go fishing on Port Phillip Bay together.
"He recently sold his boat, what a waste."
Johnny was married and had one adult son.
A workmate was with the man when the accident occurred while 15 in total were working around the site, Sergeant Pam Hawker, from Springvale police, said.
She said the man's son worked nearby on another building site.
© 2008 AAPSunday, April 6, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
'Construction 2020'
From the 'National Building News Magazine'Key issues addressed for the future:
-sustainable development
-business and working environment
-design and communication
-process and manufacture
Also, highlights the importance of research and innovation in the construction industry geared towards these issues. Personally it seems desirable to have overshadowing research over such a broad and diverse industry. It would be good to establish some grounding principles, such as sustainable development.
The proposed research is also focused towards gained Australian construction an international international edge and competition in a business sense.
Therefore, I am a bit sceptic as well, at the broad aims of this research move, that appear to want to please too many people but could end up being contradictory
Week 2 Photos
Portal Frame Building
Location: EPIC, Canberra
This steel portal frame building is used as an exhibition and functions centre, thus the column-less structure is very suitable.
The walls are finished in plasterboard and the interior surface of the roof is clad with corrugated sheet metal for a neat finish.
The bracing is exposed and constructed from circular steel tubes.
Both the roof beams and columns feature a thickening web at the knee joint.
There is cross bracing on alternating spaces between the roof beams made of z-shaped steel girts.
At the apex, the two steel beams are bolted together with a plate inbetween.
Location: EPIC, Canberra
This steel portal frame building is used as an exhibition and functions centre, thus the column-less structure is very suitable.
The walls are finished in plasterboard and the interior surface of the roof is clad with corrugated sheet metal for a neat finish.
The bracing is exposed and constructed from circular steel tubes.
Both the roof beams and columns feature a thickening web at the knee joint.
There is cross bracing on alternating spaces between the roof beams made of z-shaped steel girts.
At the apex, the two steel beams are bolted together with a plate inbetween.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Building visit - Bunnings
Site: Bunnings Warehouse, Middleborough Rd Mt. Waverley.
Architect unknown
Overview of the low rise, long span structure. Like many other examples of portal frame buildings, the form is very simple from the outside. This is usually a practical measure for industrial and warehouse type buildings, both for storage and circulation as well as fast and economic fabrication and erection.
Interior view: the building spans a very large distance with its portal frames.
View of the end wall with thinner profiled steel mullion posts. Gridded laterally with 'zed' section girts. The end wall is mainly covered with sheet cladding, except for the bottom which is bolted to low rise pre-cast concrete panels. This is probably a safety measure to make the building more rugged, especially against transport vehicle collisions.
Looking at the portals, they span so far that they are made up of numerous members butted against each other and bolted with supporting plate.
Apex detail. Steel members thicken at apex joint. This frame in particular requires an extra vertical support directly underneath each apex which is unusual, and probably due to the massive span of the building. Another customised addition can just be seen in the portal directly behind the one photographed. Bridging the top of the portal and the vertical support is a thin steel member for extra stiffening at that joint.
The underside of the roofing is left naked. Roof highlights alternate for admittance of natural lighting.
Sorry I can't rotate this one for some reason!! This is the base column detail. It has a neat finish, where the column seems to just run into the concrete slab floor and not even base plate or hold down bolts are apparent. This is achieved due to different concrete pours. Importantly, the pad that supports the steel column is independent from the rest of the floor which is most likely an infill slab. This is obvious from the photo. Another layer of blinding concrete must have been poured over the column base fixings for a neat finish.
Architect unknown
Overview of the low rise, long span structure. Like many other examples of portal frame buildings, the form is very simple from the outside. This is usually a practical measure for industrial and warehouse type buildings, both for storage and circulation as well as fast and economic fabrication and erection.
Interior view: the building spans a very large distance with its portal frames.
View of the end wall with thinner profiled steel mullion posts. Gridded laterally with 'zed' section girts. The end wall is mainly covered with sheet cladding, except for the bottom which is bolted to low rise pre-cast concrete panels. This is probably a safety measure to make the building more rugged, especially against transport vehicle collisions.
Looking at the portals, they span so far that they are made up of numerous members butted against each other and bolted with supporting plate.
Apex detail. Steel members thicken at apex joint. This frame in particular requires an extra vertical support directly underneath each apex which is unusual, and probably due to the massive span of the building. Another customised addition can just be seen in the portal directly behind the one photographed. Bridging the top of the portal and the vertical support is a thin steel member for extra stiffening at that joint.
The underside of the roofing is left naked. Roof highlights alternate for admittance of natural lighting.
Sorry I can't rotate this one for some reason!! This is the base column detail. It has a neat finish, where the column seems to just run into the concrete slab floor and not even base plate or hold down bolts are apparent. This is achieved due to different concrete pours. Importantly, the pad that supports the steel column is independent from the rest of the floor which is most likely an infill slab. This is obvious from the photo. Another layer of blinding concrete must have been poured over the column base fixings for a neat finish.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
First Exercise
Commercial Building:Suite Deals, 459 Church St. Richmond, Architect unknown.
Was garage, now furniture showroom.
The garage, suitable for its original and current purposes has long stretches of uninterrupted space. This is achieved by the use of long-span trusses. The trusses are timber and considering their size and design, were probably specially engineered for this building.
The trusses ends rest on brick piers, which probably conceal steel columns.
The trusses were at some points laterally stabilised with butting timber beams.
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