Final Posters

Final Posters

concrete construction

This is just an image i took on the way to uni today of the concrete multi-store complex i went on a site visit to earlier in the month. (sorry about the blurriness, it was an action shot!) It is interesting to see how the construction has progressed since i last saw it, but im not sure if i'm a fan of the rock climbing wall extension (the little shed on top), its seems a little oddly placed.

The Globe Building, Torquay

Globe facade. This building is constructed using concrete slabs, with a timber cladding. The central columns are constructed of concrete, but most likely have steel running through the centre, due to their odd angle, and concrete's tendancy to weaken and buckle under tensile loads. They are connected to a steel beam. Window to wall connection
Corner Window Connection Concrete attached column and beam system to help disperse loads

These steel connections assist in transferring the loads from the concrete floor slab into the walls below

I really like this building due to its innovative use of timber as a facade to make it more appealing. Also, the unsupported window corners are aesthetically pleasing, but also are effective as they assist the function of the building- a retail store, as it allows an unobstructed view.

Article-Modern times, modern methods

Constructing the Future
Issue 23 February 2005

This article discusses the new developments being acheived through off-site, prefabricated manufacture of construction materials.

Methods on concrete construction techniques such as Tunnelform and Crosswall construction have become a more populare method of concrete construction.
Using these methods, producing structures are low on labour, and highly mechanised so that they perfom well and are durable

Tunnelform construction involves (using in-situ concrete) pouring the concrete into two half tunnel shapes that together form the walls and the ceilings of a space.

Also, new methods have sought to achieve a more energy efficient way of construction. One method is to make spaces heavily insulated and more air tight. However, this article disputes that there is a danger of overheating the space during hotter months. To prevent this, the article suggests maxamising a buildings thermal mass, using concrete as a practical way of introducing it into a building.

Contructing members off-site can improve the quality and the efficiency of building construction, by reducing the number of activities performed on site, and producing the members in a more isolated environment.
Also, methods have been developed so that the contractor can simply prepare the grounds for the building's componenets, and even the footings can been constructed off site.

All in all this promotes a more efficient, and (hopefully) more durable structural members. However, i wonder how many jobs of on site labourers will be lost to the machine?

Site Visit Three (20/05/07) -North East Wall

Here you can see 'C' purlins running along the face of the building, with bracing running perpendicular to it. You can also faintly see safety mesh running over the purlins. The large overhang is most probably there to provide shade, but also could be purely aesthetic.

Here you can see the diagonal cross bracing running at 45 degrees from one column to another, to provide resistance against lateral forces. Also the insulation is visible on the underside of the roof.

Site visit three (20/05/07)-Overall View

This is an overall view of the construction so far from the North East side. From this view you can clearly see the structural steel framing, and prefabricated concrete slab divides.

Multi-Store Complex, Warrnambool (site three-visited 20/05/07)

Located on Mortlake Road (on the Hopkins Highway) in Warrnambool, this multi store complex (expected to be completed early 2008) is being constructed buy South Melbourne based CE Contruction Engineering.
The total floor area will be 4680 square metres, with the floor and walls constructed of concrete, and the cladding and frame structure constructed of steel.
The complex is single storey, and expected to contain retail stores and a coles supermarket.

Site visit two (09/05/07)

Multi-Store Complex Princes Highway, Geelong

On Wednesday 9th I spoke to Chris of Polaris construction who explained that the building was to be a multi-store complex, with car-park underneath, and raised roof space in the centre for a rockclimbing wall. This was to be constructed in conjunction with Lyons construction.
The Structural sytem is a tilt-up portal frame construction. Before the panel props are moved, these must be checked with an engineer. As these are pre-fabricated they are cured before they arrive. The minimum curing time is four days.

Flooring System

The floor is constructed using a post tension slab, which requires less reinforcement and uses suspension cables. On the first day the concrete is poured, the next day, the cables are stressed to 20%, and then five days after that, they are fully stressed (quick curing).
If the slab is on the ground, hold down bolts are used, otherwise cast a footing in the ground then slab around.

Panel to Panel Connection

To achieve panel to panel connection the grout is poured through the liquid tube to seal the two panels together; otherwise ties can be made through cast-in cleats which are then welded to other panels
Each panel weighs approximately 18 tonne, and is 14 metres in length, with a two metre extension on the top.

Roofing System

Once the panels are securely in place, the roof is then loaded on top. Firstly wall ties are connected which are designed to take the beam load, and then are fixed back onto the panels.
Once this is all in place, the roof is loaded with purlins, followed by the fly girts which assist the main rafters in carrying the roof load affectively.
The spacing of the steel columns (which support the roof beams/rafters) across the floor space is eight metres in length, and 19 metres width.

Article-Building with Glass

Constructin the Future
Issue 24 2005

I found this article helpful with my major project as i was considering having an entirely glass front for my warehouse. After reading this however (and teamed with the fact that glass is probably not appropriate when storing things away from direct sunlight) i have considered changing my ideas.

the article stated that issues such as- daylighting standards, energy efficiency, safety, durability, and weahtertightness needed to be assesed when installing a glazed sytem. Also, an important factor that needs to be assessed is the loading on the glass through other structural systems.

Although it did state how creating the glazing in factories improved its quality and minimised potential failure, it also stated that it was in its use that extensive glazing in an inappropriate area became a danger, as the natural properties of glass do not support excessive loading or diverse climatic changes.

Also, the abnormal loading of such elements as explosions, fires, wind driven debris and human impact was investigated to see how a glazed system could cope until failure.
This test was also performed with annealed, toughened, laminated wired and filmed safety glass. With these innovations, the potential risk of life has been lowered, but the article states that building standards must remain the same to minimise the risk of injury or glazing failure.

Major Project-initial designs

East Elevation

West Elevation

Sorry about the poor quality of the images, will try and get better ones posted soon

Article review

Steel Construction vs. Tilt-up construction

The article stated that steel construction was becoming a more widespread system of construction, to to prefabricated steel members now being available, and its attraction due to reasonably efficient construction. Relative to efficiency, the cost of steel can also be less (even than tilt-up construction) if a prefabricated system is used.
Also, one major drawcard in steel construction (especially in commercial construction), is its ability to span greater lengths unsupported than traditional materials.

The arguement for tilt-up concrete construction in preference to steel construction was that in a building over 50,000 square feet, concrete becomes cheaper in construction than steel. Another argument was that the fire protection of concrete tilt-up panels is greater than steel so (applied into an industrial area) more concrete constructed buildings could be place lesser distances to each other than steel.

Also, the prefabricated nature of the tilt-up panel means that once it arrives on site, construction is very efficient, the drawback to this is the expense of large machinery needed to erect the large panels.

Another reason concrete would be more advisable is that over its life span it generally has lower maintenance costs.

My opinion is that they are both effective techniques in building construction due to their strength, and efficiency in construction. However, both must be applied to the right scenario to maxamise the materials capabilities, if safe and efficient construction is wanting to be acheived.

Richard Rogers-INMOS microprocessor factory

The INMOS microprocessor was designed by Richard Rogers and built in Newport, Wales in 1982. What made this design flexible was that it was potentially suitable for construction in a variety of locations. The fact that this factory needed to be constructed quickly meant that Rogers had to incorporate a great deal of prefabricated material into the design. Like the Reliance Controls factory, Rogers brings the structural elements to the exterior, but this time to the roof, and the loads are dispersed across the building using tensile supports.

Sources-

Powell, Kenneth, Richard Rogers, Artemis, London

courses.arch.hku.hk

Richard Rogers-Reliance Controls Factory

Richard Rogers designed the Reliance Controls Factory as part of Team 4 in Swindon, England- 1967.
The factory was deisgned to be economic, efficient in construction, and a 'democratic building' in which the factory was not exclusively divided into labourer and manager components.
making use of cheap and easily accessible material, Rogers, optmised the floor space by pushing the main structural elements to the exterior. However, the natural repitition of the steel columns, bracing and metal cladding give the building an architectural quality.
Also, with exploration into glass walling, Rogers imporved the quality of work conditions-allowing sunlight into the building.

sources-
Powell, Kenneth, Richard Rogers, Artemis, London, 1994

Richard Rogers, Centre Pompidou

One of Rogers' most famous works was the Centre Pompidou (Paris, 1971-77) in collaboration with Renzo Piano. By placing the structural system of the exterior of the building, Piano and Rogers designed an exposed steel superstructure with reinforced concrete floors, creating a checkerboard effect, which was then diagonally braced. This type of design allowed for long span unobstructed spaces, and high ceilings.
Image One- West Corner
Image Two- North West Wall

sources-
Pizzi, Emilio, Renzo Piano, Birkhauser, Basel, 2003
Powell, Kenneth, Richard Rogers, Artemis, London, 1994
Images found at-greatbuildingsonline.com/buildings/centre_pompidou.html

Completed site visit (Bunnings)

here you can see the 'c' purlins resting on the outer steel beam
This box gutter is connected to a concrete slab on the exterior of the wall. The services have been hidden by the steel column. Also above this you can see safety mesh.
At the central apex, a rigid frame has been added to maxamise the span of the steel rafters


Here's a knee joint of a portal frame. The thicker area attached is the haunching to assist in bearing the loads of the building

Gutter Detail

Parapet Detail

Roof Junction Detail

South Wall Section